Air India grounded one of its aircraft and cancelled a return flight on Thursday after a Delhi-to-Bengaluru service suffered a tail-strike during landing at Bengaluru airport.
The incident involved flight AI2651 operating from New Delhi to Bengaluru. The aircraft landed safely and all passengers and crew members disembarked normally without any injuries, the airline said.
A tail-strike occurs when the rear section of an aircraft comes into contact with the runway during take-off or landing, often requiring mandatory safety and structural inspections.
Following the incident, the aircraft was immediately grounded for what the airline described as a “detailed inspection”. Air India said the matter would be investigated in accordance with established safety protocols and in coordination with relevant aviation authorities.
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The incident also disrupted onward operations, forcing the airline to cancel return flight AI2652 from Bengaluru to Delhi. The airline said efforts were underway to minimise inconvenience to passengers affected by the cancellation.
Ground staff at Bengaluru airport were deployed to assist stranded passengers and facilitate alternative travel arrangements at the earliest, Air India said.
In a statement, an airline spokesperson reiterated that passenger and crew safety remained the carrier’s “highest priority”. The airline also expressed regret over the inconvenience caused due to the cancellation and operational disruption.
The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of aviation safety procedures, with tail-strike events treated seriously because of the potential for structural damage to the aircraft’s fuselage and tail section.
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