SRINAGAR: An IndiGo flight travelling from Patna to Lucknow was struck by lightning amid adverse weather conditions on Wednesday, damaging the aircraft’s nose radome. The aircraft landed safely at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, with all 104 passengers and six crew members reported safe.
The aircraft, operating flight 6E 925, was flying at around 17,000 feet when it was hit by lightning, according to airport sources cited by The Times of India and The New Indian Express. It landed at about 4.04 pm, around eight minutes ahead of its scheduled arrival.
The extent of the damage became apparent after the aircraft reached its parking bay. The damage was confined to the radome, the protective cover fitted over the aircraft’s weather radar, The Times of India reported.
The pilots informed Air Traffic Control about the lightning strike as a precaution, although they were not immediately aware of the extent of the damage, airport sources told The New Indian Express. The aircraft was subsequently inspected and grounded, while the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was informed.
IndiGo said the aircraft encountered unfavourable weather, including hail during the landing phase, which caused damage to the radome. The airline said all passengers disembarked safely after the aircraft reached Lucknow and that the aircraft would undergo the required maintenance.
“The aircraft landed safely, and all customers disembarked at their destination,” an IndiGo spokesperson said, adding that the relevant authorities had been informed. The aircraft will return to service only after completing the necessary maintenance and obtaining the required clearances, the airline said.
The aircraft, an Airbus A320-251N registered as VT-IQZ, was scheduled to operate a subsequent Lucknow-Ahmedabad service. Following the incident, IndiGo deployed another aircraft for the flight, allowing passengers travelling to Ahmedabad to continue their journey, The New Indian Express reported.
DGCA launches probe
The DGCA has initiated an investigation into the incident. The affected aircraft will remain grounded while technical inspections and repairs are undertaken. It will be cleared for commercial operations only after the required maintenance and regulatory approvals.
The incident follows another weather-related IndiGo aircraft incident at Bengaluru last month. On September 27, an Airbus A321 operating flight 6E 6542 from Guwahati to Bengaluru experienced an abnormal runway contact during landing at Kempegowda International Airport amid gusty weather.
