Air India News: Air India Flight Suffers Tailstrike While Landing at Bengaluru Airport
Air India News
An Air India flight travelling from Delhi to Bengaluru experienced a tailstrike while landing at Kempegowda International Airport on Thursday. The incident prompted the airline to ground the aircraft for detailed inspection and cancel the return flight to Delhi.
According to an official statement issued by the airline, Flight AI2651 encountered the tailstrike during landing at Bengaluru airport on May 21. Despite the incident, the aircraft landed safely and all passengers and crew members were able to disembark normally without injuries.
A tailstrike happens when the rear section or tail of an aircraft touches the runway during takeoff or landing. Such incidents can occur because of factors like landing angle, weather conditions, aircraft speed, or pilot handling during descent.
Although tailstrikes are usually not catastrophic, they are treated seriously in aviation because they can damage the aircraft structure and require careful technical examination before the plane can fly again.
After the incident, Air India immediately grounded the aircraft to allow engineers and maintenance teams to conduct a detailed inspection. Aviation experts say these inspections are important to identify any possible structural damage to the aircraft’s tail section or fuselage.
The airline also confirmed that a formal investigation will be conducted according to established aviation safety procedures and in coordination with relevant regulatory authorities.
Officials have not yet released additional technical details regarding the exact cause of the incident. Investigators are expected to examine factors such as weather conditions, flight data, pilot actions, runway conditions, and aircraft performance during landing.
As a result of the grounding, the return service AI2652 from Bengaluru to Delhi was cancelled. The airline said it was making alternative arrangements for affected passengers.
Air India stated that ground staff at Bengaluru airport were assisting passengers and helping them with rebooking, alternate travel options, and other necessary support.
The airline also expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to travelers. In its statement, Air India emphasized that passenger and crew safety remains its highest priority.
The incident comes at a time when the aviation industry is facing increasing operational pressure due to growing passenger traffic, weather disruptions, technical challenges, and rising operational costs.
Kempegowda International Airport is one of India’s busiest airports and handles a large number of domestic and international flights every day. Aviation authorities maintain strict safety procedures for handling incidents involving aircraft damage or operational irregularities.
Experts note that pilots are specially trained to respond to situations like tailstrikes and follow detailed safety protocols after such events. Aircraft involved in these incidents are typically grounded until inspections and repairs are fully completed and regulators clear the plane for operation again.
Passengers onboard the flight reportedly remained calm after landing, and airport operations continued normally despite the incident.
Aviation safety investigators are expected to review the aircraft’s flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder if required during the investigation process. Maintenance reports and runway conditions may also be examined to determine whether any technical or environmental factors contributed to the tailstrike.
The incident highlights the importance of strict aviation safety standards and the quick response systems followed by airlines and airport authorities during operational events. While the aircraft landed safely without injuries, the investigation findings will help authorities understand the cause and prevent similar incidents in the future.
