IndiGo A321 Tail Strike at Bengaluru After a Go-Around

by Connor Kerr | Sep 28, 2026 | Mondo dell'aviazione, Notizia | 0 comments

The first approach into Bengaluru did not work out, so the crew of IndiGo flight 6E 6542 went around. On the second attempt, in gusty winds on Sunday 27 September, the tail of their Airbus A321 touched the runway.

The jet landed safely and everyone walked off. IndiGo called it an "abnormal runway contact," grounded the aircraft for inspection, and informed the authorities. India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has opened an investigation.

Informazioni rapide

Volo: IndiGo 6E 6542, Guwahati to Bengaluru
Aeromobili: Airbus A321neo; AeroTime identifies it as A321-252NX VT-IBH
Data: Sunday 27 September 2026
Dove: Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru
Quello che è successo: Go-around on the first approach, tail contact on the second landing
Weather: Gusty winds, according to IndiGo
Infortuni: None reported
Indagine: DGCA

What IndiGo Said

According to airport sources quoted by the news agency IANS, the flight had to execute a go-around on its initial approach. The tail struck the runway during the second landing attempt. One early report described the strike as happening during the go-around itself; the airline's statement and most other reports place it on landing.

“An IndiGo aircraft operating flight 6E 6542 from Guwahati to Bengaluru, experienced an ‘Abnormal Runway Contact’ while landing during gusty weather at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru.”

IndiGo spokesperson — statement on flight 6E 6542, 27 September 2026 (via IANS)

The airline added that the aircraft was undergoing maintenance checks and would return to service only after the necessary clearances. An alternate aircraft took over the jet's next scheduled leg, from Bengaluru to Coimbatore. How much damage the rear fuselage suffered has not been disclosed.

Why the A321 Is Tail-Sensitive

The A321 is the longest member of Airbus's A320 family. A longer fuselage behind the main wheels means less clearance between the tail and the runway for any given pitch angle. Airbus fits the jet with a tailstrike warning and pitch limit indications, but in gusty conditions the margins shrink quickly.

Tail strikes on landing typically happen when an aircraft floats or loses speed in the flare and the pilot raises the nose to cushion the touchdown, or when a bounce is followed by an over-rotation. A gust that drops the airspeed at the wrong moment can set up exactly that situation. None of this has been established for 6E 6542; the DGCA will look at the flight data, both approaches and the weather.

The Press Trust of India noted that IndiGo's A321s have suffered a string of tail strikes at different Indian airports in the past. The airline is India's largest and one of the world's biggest A320-family operators, so even a small rate produces headlines.

IndiGo Airbus A321neo boarding via airstairs — An IndiGo Airbus A321neo boarding passengers via airstairs. Photo: Oleg Yunakov / CC BY-SA 4.0 (not the incident aircraft)

A Go-Around Did Its Job

It is worth noting what went right. The crew recognised that the first approach was not going to produce a good landing and went around, exactly as procedures demand. The second approach produced a firm landing with tail contact, but no one was hurt and, according to AeroTime, the aircraft taxied in without further incident.

Tail strikes are costly: the rear pressure bulkhead and fuselage skin have to be inspected, and a badly repaired tail strike was the root cause of the Japan Air Lines 123 and China Airlines 611 disasters years later. That is why airlines ground aircraft after even a light scrape, and why this one will not fly again until engineers have signed it off.

Sources: IndiGo statement via IANS (Gulf News) and PTI (Deccan Herald), AeroTime, India Today.

Domande frequenti

What happened to IndiGo flight 6E 6542 in Bengaluru?

IndiGo flight 6E 6542 from Guwahati to Bengaluru, an Airbus A321, went around on its first approach on 27 September 2026 and suffered a tail strike on its second landing attempt in gusty weather. The aircraft landed safely, nobody was hurt, and it was grounded for inspection.

What did IndiGo say about the Bengaluru tail strike?

IndiGo said the aircraft experienced an “Abnormal Runway Contact” while landing during gusty weather at Kempegowda International Airport. All customers and crew disembarked safely, the authorities were informed, and the aircraft is undergoing maintenance checks before it can return to service.

What is a tail strike?

A tail strike happens when the tail of an aircraft touches the runway, usually because the nose is pitched up too far during take-off or landing. Long-fuselage jets such as the Airbus A321 have less tail clearance, so gusts, a slow flare or a bounce can more easily lead to contact.

Is the Airbus A321 prone to tail strikes?

The A321 is the longest member of the A320 family, which gives it less tail clearance at a given pitch angle than shorter versions. Airbus provides tailstrike warnings and pitch limit indications, and airlines train pilots specifically to avoid over-rotating the A321 on take-off and landing.

Who is investigating the IndiGo tail strike at Bengaluru?

India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an investigation. It is expected to examine both approaches, the flight data, the aircraft’s condition and the weather at the time of landing on 27 September 2026.