Unattended Vehicle Impact
An IndiGo Airbus A320 aircraft experienced an unfortunate encounter at Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport late Tuesday evening.
The aircraft, which was parked and awaiting boarding for its flight 6E 6663 to Guwahati, was struck by a catering service vehicle. Preliminary investigations suggest the driver of the SUV exited the vehicle without adequately securing the handbrake. This oversight led to the vehicle rolling unattended across the apron area, ultimately making contact with the right engine of the stationary IndiGo plane. The incident occurred within the 9:00 pm to 9:30 pm timeframe, according to airport personnel, causing immediate concern and necessitating the grounding of the aircraft.
Aircraft Status and Disruption
Following the collision, the IndiGo Airbus A320 was immediately taken out of service for a comprehensive inspection and necessary repairs. While no passengers or crew were on board at the time of the incident, and thankfully no injuries were reported, the impact has rendered the aircraft unserviceable for the time being. IndiGo confirmed the event, stating a 'third-party unmanned vehicle on the apron moved and came in contact with a parked IndiGo aircraft.' The airline is currently undertaking a detailed technical evaluation to ascertain the full extent of the damage, with initial assessments indicating the aircraft could be grounded for several days. To mitigate passenger inconvenience and operational disruptions, an alternative aircraft was promptly arranged to operate the scheduled Kolkata to Guwahati flight.
Safety Protocol Review
The incident has triggered a formal investigation by the relevant authorities to pinpoint the exact cause of the vehicle's movement and to scrutinize whether established safety procedures for apron operations were adhered to. This event underscores the critical importance of stringent safety measures during ground handling activities at busy airports, where even minor oversights, like failing to properly secure stationary vehicles, can have significant consequences. The frequency of such ground-related incidents, including a recent stepladder impact on another airline's aircraft at the same airport and minor wingtip contacts between aircraft earlier in the year, raises ongoing concerns about operational discipline and the effectiveness of current safety protocols within the Indian aviation landscape.
