An Air India flight from Bengaluru to Delhi was grounded after the aircraft suffered a tail-strike during its landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport [1].
The incident highlights the critical nature of landing precision and the immediate safety protocols required when an aircraft's fuselage makes contact with the runway. Such events necessitate rigorous technical evaluations to ensure structural integrity before a plane can return to the skies.
Flight AI2651 [1] was operating on the Bengaluru-Delhi sector when the strike occurred. Following the landing, all passengers and crew members were safely evacuated from the aircraft [2]. The evacuation process was conducted to ensure that no individuals remained on board while the initial assessment took place.
Air India grounded the aircraft immediately following the event [1]. The company initiated a detailed inspection of the plane's exterior and internal systems to determine the extent of the damage caused by the tail-strike [2]. This level of scrutiny is standard for any incident where the aircraft's tail section contacts the runway surface, a situation that can cause significant stress to the airframe.
Airport authorities in Delhi coordinated the response to ensure the runway remained operational while the aircraft was moved to a secure area for evaluation [1]. The grounded status of flight AI2651 remains in effect until the inspection team clears the aircraft for service [2].
While the exact cause of the tail-strike has not been released, the safety of the passengers and crew remained the primary focus during the evacuation [2]. The airline has not provided a timeline for when the aircraft will be returned to its active fleet.
“Passengers and crew were safely evacuated.”
A tail-strike occurs when the rear fuselage of an aircraft hits the runway, often due to a landing flare that is too late or an excessive pitch angle. While evacuations in these scenarios are typically precautionary, the grounding of the aircraft is mandatory because such impacts can cause structural deformations or compromise the pressure hull, requiring specialized repairs before the plane is airworthy again.
