AAIB to investigate IndiGo's recent tail strikes

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will look into all tail strike incidents involving IndiGo's A321 Neo planes. This investigation follows a recent tail strike in Chennai, marking the sixth incident in two years. An AAIB official stated they will explore factors like training, procedural lapses, and patterns in these incidents. The latest strike occurred on March 8, when the tail of an IndiGo aircraft from Mumbai hit the runway in Chennai. The same aircraft had been involved in a previous tail strike in September 2024. The pilots were reported to be experienced, with one undergoing an annual proficiency check during the flight. The AAIB now categorizes the incident as serious due to significant internal damage to the aircraft. The investigation also covers the earlier September incident, which is still ongoing. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had previously penalized IndiGo ₹30 lakh for multiple tail strikes due to operational and training procedure failures. There have been concerns about a specific flap configuration recommended by IndiGo to its pilots to save fuel, which may have contributed to these issues. There have been no comments yet from IndiGo or Airbus regarding the investigations. A detailed report from the AAIB is expected soon.