Air India and IndiGo A320s contact wings at Mumbai Airport; what caused the taxiway incident?

The wingtips of two narrow-body Airbus A320 aircraft scraped each other at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai on Tuesday, February 3. The incident involved a plane operated by Air India and one from low-cost carrier IndiGo. This Mumbai Airport taxi incident occurred on the ground, causing damage to the aircraft but resulting in no reported injuries to passengers or crew.

Incident Details and Regulatory Response

The Air India IndiGo wing tip scrape happened while both planes were moving. Air India flight AI 2732 was preparing for departure to Coimbatore. The IndiGo aircraft, flight 6E 791, had just landed from Hyderabad and was taxiing to its parking bay. Reports indicate the right wing tips of the two jets made contact. Both airlines confirmed the event and stated that all passengers were safely disembarked. The damaged aircraft were immediately taken out of service. They were moved to their respective bays for detailed technical inspections.

India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has launched a formal DGCA investigation. Officials from the DGCA were dispatched to the site shortly after the event. The probe will focus on determining the exact cause of the Airbus A320 ground collision. This includes reviewing communication, taxiway clearance procedures, and crew actions. The goal is to prevent similar commercial aviation safety India incidents in the future.

Impact on Operations and Safety

Ground collisions, while typically less severe than in-air incidents, pose significant operational risks. The immediate aircraft grounding for inspection of both A320s disrupts flight schedules. This forces airlines to arrange alternative travel for affected passengers, causing delays. Ground safety remains a critical focus for regulators globally. High-density airports like Mumbai require strict adherence to taxiway clearance procedures. Even minor wingtip contact can necessitate costly and time-consuming repairs to the Airbus airframe. The DGCA investigation will likely assess if air traffic control or pilot error contributed to the close proximity on the taxiway. The findings will inform any necessary changes to operational protocols for both airlines and the airport.

• Key Takeaways:
  • The incident highlights the challenge of maintaining taxiway clearance at busy hubs.
  • The DGCA's swift action ensures a thorough review of ground operations safety.
  • Both Air India and IndiGo face operational delays due to the grounded A320 aircraft.

Stay ahead of the airline industry with commercial aviation news from flying.flights.

For airline finances, mergers, and industry strategy, visit the Business category at flying.flights/business.