IndiGo aircraft grounded after SUV collision at Kolkata airport

An IndiGo Airbus A320 aircraft parked on the apron at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport suffered damage to its right engine on Tuesday night after a catering vehicle collided with it.

The incident occurred around 9:30 pm when an Oberoi catering SUV reportedly bumped into the rear of the starboard engine. There were no passengers or crew on board the aircraft at the time.

According to sources who spoke to Times of India, the damage appears to be extensive and is likely to keep the aircraft grounded for several days while engineers carry out a detailed assessment.

IndiGo’s response

In an official statement, IndiGo confirmed the incident and said: “An unmanned vehicle on the apron moved and came in contact with a parked IndiGo aircraft. The relevant authorities have been informed. The aircraft is grounded undergoing inspections and necessary maintenance before being cleared for operations.”

The aircraft was scheduled to operate flight 6E 6663 to Guwahati. IndiGo has arranged an alternate aircraft for the flight.

Airport authority’s action

The airport authority has initiated an inquiry into the incident to determine the exact circumstances that led to the collision.

This is the latest in a series of ground incidents at Indian airports involving ground support vehicles and parked aircraft, highlighting the need for stricter safety protocols on the apron area.

(With TOI inputs)