IndiGo says an A321 aircraft grounded in Delhi due to tail strike, incident under investigation

IndiGo said on Tuesday that an A321 aircraft, part of its fleet, was grounded in Delhi on September 9 "due to a tail strike".

The said aircraft was reported to have been asked to stop by the airport authorities after the rear part of its body hit the runway during takeoff. The airline was operating the Bengaluru-bound flight IndiGo6E 6054 using the aircraft. 

The aircraft floated in the air for a few seconds after hitting the runway, according to sources.  

"The aircraft is currently under maintenance and will be back in operation post necessary repairs," IndiGo said. 

The private sector airline said the "incident is under investigation".

The accident left prominent marks on the section of the aircraft that reportedly came in contact with the ground. 

The pilot of the airline reported the incident immediately to the air traffic controller, prompting the authority to call back the airline to the airport for the safety of the passengers on board. 

The air traffic controller also alerted the rescue team immediately.

No damages were reported during the incident. 

The Delhi Airport administration is learned to be investigating the incident in detail while DGCA officials are interrogating the cabin crew. 

The aviation regulator has also shared data with Airbus (the manufacturer of the A321 aircraft) for assessment and grounded the crew involved.