DELHI- The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has suspended IndiGo (6E) pilots involved in a tail strike incident at Delhi airport on September 9.
IndiGo Airlines flight 6E6054, operated by an Airbus A321neo (registered as VT-IBI), experienced a significant tail strike during its Delhi (DEL) to Bengaluru (BLR) route. The aircraft remained grounded eight days after the incident.
IndiGo Tail Strike
DGCA’s suspension duration remains undetermined as the regulator conducts an inquiry into the event. Sources reveal to MoneyControl that the pilots have been grounded pending the investigation’s outcome.
A preliminary report indicates that DGCA issued a show-cause notice to both pilots following the incident.
This action follows a similar incident last year when DGCA suspended IndiGo pilots involved in a tail strike at Ahmedabad airport. The pilot-in-command received a three-month suspension, while the co-pilot faced a one-month suspension.
Additionally, DGCA imposed a Rs 30 lakh fine on IndiGo after the airline experienced four tail strike incidents on its A321 aircraft in 2023.
IndiGo’s A321 fleet encountered four tail strike incidents between January and June 2023, occurring during landing or take-off operations. This series of events has raised concerns about operational safety and pilot training within the airline.
DGCA defines a tail strike as an incident where an aircraft’s aft fuselage contacts the runway during landing or takeoff, potentially causing significant damage.
DGCA Audit in 2023 Report
Following a series of such incidents involving IndiGo’s Airbus A321 fleet, the DGCA conducted a special audit of the airline’s operations, training, engineering, and Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) procedures in 2023.
The audit revealed systemic deficiencies in IndiGo’s documentation across various operational areas. The DGCA issued a show-cause notice to the airline, deeming IndiGo’s response unsatisfactory.
Consequently, the regulator mandated IndiGo to revise its documents and procedures to align with Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) guidelines and DGCA requirements.
In response to these regulatory actions, IndiGo implemented several preventive measures in August 2023. The airline assigned more experienced pilots to operate the Airbus A321 and eliminated certain procedures that placed undue performance pressure on flight crews.
Ashim Mitra, IndiGo’s senior vice president of flight operations, communicated to pilots the necessity of selecting landing flap configurations based on environmental and weather conditions. This directive followed the completion of DGCA’s investigations.
Flaps, crucial for reducing an aircraft wing’s stalling speed during landing or takeoff, play a significant role in fuel efficiency.
IndiGo’s flight operations prefer a Flap 3 landing configuration, which reduces drag and fuel consumption. This approach saves approximately 10 kg of fuel per landing, translating to a daily fuel saving of 180,000 kg across IndiGo’s 1,800 daily flights.
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IndiGo Pilots License Suspended by DGCA over Tail Strike Incident at Ahmedabad
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