Catering Van Strikes Stationary Plane
A surprising incident unfolded at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport when a catering vehicle made contact with a parked IndiGo aircraft.
The collision occurred at Bay No. 51 while the plane was not in operation, meaning its engines were not running and the aircraft was not preparing for immediate departure. Reports suggest that the catering van suddenly moved forward shortly after its engine was activated, leading to the unfortunate encounter with the aircraft's engine. While no injuries were sustained by any personnel, and the potential for a more severe accident was averted due to the plane's stationary status, the event has necessitated a thorough safety evaluation. The extent of the damage is currently under assessment, and standard operational procedures will be followed to ensure the aircraft's airworthiness before it can resume service. The airline has yet to release an official statement regarding the specifics of the incident.
Past Emergency Landing
This recent ground incident at Kolkata Airport brings to mind a prior, more critical event involving a Turkish Airlines flight. In February, an Airbus A330-300, en route to Istanbul with 236 individuals on board, had to execute an emergency landing at the same airport. The aircraft, flight THY-727, had departed from Kathmandu when a reported fire in its right engine necessitated the diversion. Airport authorities confirmed that all 225 passengers and 11 crew members were safely brought down, with no reported injuries. The wide-body jet was subsequently grounded in Kolkata for an extensive technical inspection to understand and rectify the engine issue. This earlier event highlights the critical nature of aviation safety protocols, both in the air and on the ground.
