New Delhi: An Air India flight travelling from New Delhi to Bengaluru experienced a tail-strike while landing at Bengaluru airport on Thursday, prompting the airline to suspend further operations of the aircraft pending technical inspection.
The incident involved flight AI2651, which landed safely despite the impact. According to airline officials, all passengers and crew members disembarked normally, and no injuries were reported.
A tail-strike occurs when the rear underside of an aircraft comes into contact with the runway during take-off or landing. Such incidents generally require detailed engineering assessments to check for possible structural or mechanical damage before the aircraft can be cleared for service again.
Following the landing, the aircraft was immediately withdrawn from operations for what the airline described as a comprehensive inspection. Air India stated that the matter would be examined in accordance with aviation safety protocols and relevant regulatory procedures.
As a result of the grounding, the return service from Bengaluru to Delhi, flight AI2652, was cancelled, affecting onward travel plans for several passengers.
The airline said efforts were underway to accommodate affected travellers through alternative flight arrangements. Ground support teams were also deployed at the airport to assist passengers facing delays and disruptions.
In an official statement, Air India reiterated that passenger and crew safety remains its top operational priority and expressed regret over the inconvenience caused by the cancellation.
The incident is expected to be reviewed further by technical teams and aviation authorities as part of standard post-incident procedures.
