Unforeseen Collision
Late Tuesday evening at Kolkata airport, an IndiGo Airbus A320 aircraft, stationary on the apron, was struck by a catering vehicle belonging to Oberoi
officials. The collision occurred around 9:30 pm, impacting the right engine of the aircraft. Fortunately, there were no passengers or crew members on board at the time of the incident, ensuring no injuries. Initial assessments by airline engineers indicate potentially significant damage, suggesting the aircraft may be out of service for an extended period. The airport authorities have launched a thorough investigation to ascertain the precise cause and circumstances leading to this unusual mishap, aiming to prevent future occurrences. The event caused disruption to scheduled flights, with IndiGo confirming that an alternate aircraft was arranged for the flight bound for Guwahati.
Investigation Underway
Reports surrounding the incident present conflicting details regarding the vehicle's operation. While some initial accounts suggest an "unmanned vehicle" came into contact with the parked aircraft, other claims, specifically from ABP Ananda, indicate that the vehicle was indeed driverless and suddenly began moving on its own. The car reportedly spun before making contact with the stationary plane. IndiGo has officially stated that a "driverless third party vehicle" was responsible for hitting the stationary plane. The airline confirmed that the damaged aircraft was scheduled for flight 6E 6663 to Guwahati. Following the incident, measures were promptly initiated to re-route passengers via alternative flights to minimize inconvenience. However, the exact mechanism by which the vehicle started moving autonomously remains a subject of ongoing inquiry.
Aviation Safety Concerns
This peculiar incident at Kolkata airport is not an isolated event within the aviation sector. The skies have witnessed other near misses and accidents that raise questions about ground operations and safety protocols. For instance, in February of the same year, a similar situation unfolded at Mumbai airport when two IndiGo and Air India aircraft made contact on the taxiway. While thankfully no passengers were harmed in that instance, it highlighted potential vulnerabilities. Furthermore, a separate event last August saw an IndiGo Airbus A321 veer off the runway, with bad weather cited as a possible contributing factor. Kolkata airport itself has been a site of other aviation incidents, including a Turkish Airlines flight making an emergency landing with 236 passengers, and another flight from Kathmandu experiencing a mid-air engine fire that necessitated an emergency landing. These occurrences collectively underscore the continuous need for vigilance and robust safety measures in air travel.
