IndiGo aircraft grounded after tail strike during landing at Ranchi airport

An IndiGo aircraft operating the Bhubaneswar-Ranchi sector suffered a tail strike while landing at the Ranchi airport on Friday evening, prompting the airline to ground the plane and cancel its onward flight, officials said on Saturday.

The incident occurred around 7.30 pm when the aircraft, carrying about 70 passengers, was in the final phase of landing. Airport officials said the tail of the aircraft made contact with the runway, causing a sudden jolt that was felt inside the cabin.

Ranchi airport director Vinod Kumar said all passengers were safe and no injuries were reported. He added that the aircraft was immediately withdrawn from service after checks found it technically unfit for further operations.

Following the incident, the scheduled Ranchi-Bhubaneswar return flight was cancelled. Airport authorities said some passengers chose to cancel their travel plans, while others opted to reschedule their journeys. A few passengers were transported to Bhubaneswar by road.

Sources in the airline said the ATR flight suffered a minor tail strike and was subsequently grounded.

“Full refunds were initiated, accommodation was arranged and alternative flights were also provided. Whatever the passengers wanted, we ensured it was provided,” the airline said.