Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug 16: An IndiGo Airbus A321 aircraft experienced a tail strike during a go-around manoeuvre at Mumbai airport on Saturday amid poor weather conditions, the airline confirmed.

The incident occurred when the pilots opted for a go-around — a common safety procedure in aviation — instead of attempting to land under challenging conditions. While powering up for the go-around at low altitude, the aircraft’s tail made contact with the runway.

"On August 16, 2025, an IndiGo Airbus A321 aircraft tail touched the runway while executing a low-altitude go-around due to unfavourable weather conditions in Mumbai. The aircraft later landed safely," an IndiGo spokesperson said.

Following standard safety protocols, IndiGo stated that the aircraft will undergo technical inspection, necessary repairs, and obtain regulatory clearance before it is returned to service.

“At IndiGo, the safety of our customers, crew, and aircraft is our top priority. We are making all efforts to minimise any subsequent impact on our operations,” the spokesperson added.

This incident comes amid heightened scrutiny from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Just last week, the regulator issued a show-cause notice to IndiGo for allegedly training over 1,700 pilots using non-qualified simulators for operations at Category C (critical) airports such as Leh, Kozhikode, and Kathmandu — airfields that require precise and specialized pilot handling.

The DGCA’s review reportedly found that simulators used did not meet the required specifications under Civil Aviation Rules (CAR) for critical airport training. This constitutes a serious regulatory breach, as flight commanders and first officers were trained without qualified airport models, potentially compromising safety.

The regulatory body is currently assessing IndiGo’s response to the notice, and further action may follow depending on the outcome of the investigation.