On March 8, 2025, an IndiGo Airlines Airbus A321, registered as VT-IBI, experienced a concerning incident at Chennai International Airport when its tail section scraped the runway during landing. The flight, identified as 6E-5325, had departed from Mumbai and was attempting to touch down at approximately 1:55 PM local time. This tail strike, a situation where the rear of an aircraft contacts the ground, prompted an immediate response from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India’s aviation regulatory body, which has since ordered a detailed investigation into the matter. The aircraft was grounded following the incident, and IndiGo has confirmed that it will remain out of service until repairs are completed and regulatory clearance is obtained.
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The incident marks at least the sixth tail strike involving an IndiGo aircraft in the past two years, raising questions about recurring safety challenges for the airline, one of India’s largest carriers. The DGCA’s probe will focus on multiple factors, including the crew’s landing technique, prevailing wind conditions, and the aircraft’s flap configuration during the approach. A senior DGCA official noted that the investigation aims to determine whether operational procedures were followed correctly and if external elements contributed to the mishap. Tail strikes, while not uncommon in aviation, can pose significant risks, potentially compromising the structural integrity of an aircraft or its pressurization systems, which are critical for maintaining cabin oxygen levels.
IndiGo has acknowledged the event, stating that the aircraft was safely grounded post-incident and emphasizing its commitment to safety as the top priority. The airline reported no injuries among passengers or crew, and operations are expected to resume once the necessary maintenance and inspections are completed. However, this incident is not an isolated case for the carrier. In July 2023, the DGCA imposed a ₹30 lakh penalty on IndiGo following a series of at least six tail strikes involving its Airbus A321 Neo fleet within a short span. That penalty came after audits revealed deficiencies in the airline’s training and engineering procedures, including a controversial policy of encouraging pilots to use a “flap 3” landing configuration to reduce fuel consumption. This setting, while efficient—saving an estimated 20 to 30 kilograms of fuel per landing—deviates from Airbus’s standard full-flap recommendations and has been linked to increased tail strike risks due to the aircraft’s pitch angle during landing.
The Airbus A321, a stretched variant of the A320 family, is notably prone to such incidents because of its extended fuselage, which measures 6.94 meters longer than the A320. This design requires pilots to maintain a precise angle of inclination during landing to avoid scraping the tail. Industry experts suggest that the combination of the aircraft’s length, crew training, and operational policies could be contributing factors in these recurring events. The DGCA’s current investigation will likely scrutinize whether IndiGo has adequately addressed the systemic issues identified in previous audits. This latest tail strike adds to a string of safety-related incidents involving IndiGo, including a notable case in September 2024, when the same aircraft, VT-IBI, suffered a tail strike during takeoff from Delhi, yet continued its flight to Bengaluru before being grounded for repairs. The DGCA’s findings in the Chennai incident could lead to further regulatory action, potentially impacting IndiGo’s operational protocols or training programs. As the investigation unfolds, the aviation community awaits clarity on whether this event reflects isolated human error or deeper, unresolved challenges within the airline’s operations. For now, the grounded aircraft serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between efficiency and safety in modern air travel.