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IndiGo A321 Hits Tail During Go-Around at Bengaluru

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An IndiGo A321 on flight 6E 6542 from Guwahati suffered a tail strike during a go-around in gusty weather at Bengaluru. It landed safely; DGCA is probing.

An IndiGo Airbus A321 suffered a tail strike during a go-around at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport on Sunday, before landing safely on its second attempt. The aircraft, registered VT-NHP, was operating flight 6E 6542 from Guwahati when the incident occurred.

The jet aborted its first approach at the destination. During the climb-out that followed, its tail made contact with the runway surface. The crew then brought the aircraft around and completed a safe landing on the second try. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is investigating the event.

An IndiGo spokesperson said the flight "experienced an abnormal runway contact" while landing in gusty weather at the Bengaluru airport. All customers and crew disembarked safely, the airline said. It added that all relevant authorities were informed in line with standard operating procedures, and that the aircraft is undergoing maintenance checks. The plane will return to service after obtaining the necessary clearances. The airline said the safety of its customers and crew is its top priority.

The DGCA has raised the matter with IndiGo. The airline told the regulator that it has stepped up pilot training focused on this specific area. Officials noted a shift in the pattern of such events: about a year ago, tail strikes on these aircraft occurred mostly during landings, whereas they are now seen more often during go-arounds.

Why go-arounds carry added risk

Airbus has flagged the manoeuvre as a particular hazard. "There is also a higher risk of tail strike when a go-around is required near the ground," the manufacturer says. Its safety guidance describes a go-around close to the runway as a very dynamic phase, and states that once initiated, the required manoeuvre must be completed.

The A321 appears more prone to the problem than its smaller sibling. The United Kingdom's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has reported that the rate of tail strike incidents per landing for the A321 is four times greater than for the A320. It attributes this to the smaller margin from the aircraft's normal flare attitude. The bureau also said damage to the fuselage's structural integrity should not pose a significant flight risk, provided the tail strike is detected during or after landing.

Airbus data underlines how often the events happen across flight phases. Between January 2022 and September 2024, 49 tail strike events were reported to the manufacturer. Of those, five (10 percent) occurred during takeoff, 23 (47 percent) during landing and 21 (43 percent) during a go-around near the ground.

A common global incident

Tail strikes are not unique to any one airline or region. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported them as the most frequent type of incident in both 2024 and 2025, while noting that the associated fatality risk remains low.

IATA figures show tail strikes were the most frequent non-fatal incidents worldwide, with nine recorded. Landing gear issues followed with seven, and runway excursions with six. According to the association's Annual Safety Report 2025, the ATR 72 and the Boeing 737NG (the -800 and -900ER variants) were most frequently involved, together accounting for 46 percent of events.

The report found that most tail strikes occur during landing, a figure that rises to 69 percent when rejected landings are included. Asia Pacific recorded the highest number of events. The United States, India and Brazil were among the most affected countries.

IndiGo's A321 will remain grounded for maintenance checks until it secures the clearances needed to resume flying, while the DGCA continues its probe into the latest incident.

IndiGo A321 tail strike, flight 6E 6542, Bengaluru airport, DGCA investigation, Airbus A321 go-around, Kempegowda International Airport, aviation safety India, IATA tail strike report

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