At Mumbai Airport, the wingtips of two passenger aircrafts made brief contact on the ground. India’s aviation regulator has opened an investigation following the incident triggering a precautionary evacuation. All passengers and crews are safe. In spite of this, both planes remain out of service for mandatory inspections.
Runway Incident Details
Two passenger jets briefly touched wingtips Tuesday evening at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, a major Indian hub. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the Air India A320, waiting for departure to Coimbatore, was clipped by an IndiGo A320 arriving from Hyderabad on a neighboring taxiway.
Around 7:30 p.m. local time, authorities were called to the scene and swiftly evacuated passengers as a precautionary measure. It is unclear how many people were on the flights as passenger numbers have not been publicly disclosed. On Indian domestic routes, an A320 usually carries 150 to 186 passengers and six to eight crew members, an airline executive said.
The Air India plane sustained a small wingtip damage, the airline said, and arrangements were made to accommodate the travelers. IndiGo added that its passengers disembarked safely once the aircraft was parked.
Scrutiny Amplified by Recent Safety Incidents
Both aircraft involved have since been grounded for inspections to be carried out. Moreover, the DGCA has launched a formal inquiry to determine how the contact occurred. The investigation will review air traffic control instructions, ground movement records and air positioning data to gain a greater understanding of what occurred.
Importantly, the incident comes at a time of heightened attention on aviation safety across India. Earlier this week, an Air India flight was grounded in Bengaluru after a pilot reported a potential fuel control switch issue. Back in January, the DGCA also looked into an incident in Delhi in which an Air India Airbus A350 ingested a cargo container while taxiing.
Overall, authorities have stressed that each case is being examined individually and in line with standard safety procedures. While ground incidents of this nature are rare and typically occur at low speeds, regulators note they are treated seriously to prevent repeat events.
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