IndiGo Flight from Patna to Lucknow Struck by Lightning
An IndiGo flight experienced a lightning strike mid-air, but all passengers and crew landed safely in Lucknow.
Flight 6E925 from Patna to Lucknow was struck by lightning during approach.
All 104 passengers and 6 crew members were unharmed, landing safely.
The aircraft will undergo thorough inspections before returning to service.
On Wednesday, an IndiGo flight traveling from Patna to Lucknow encountered a lightning strike while approaching Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport. Despite the incident, the pilots managed to land the aircraft safely, ensuring the safety of all 104 passengers and six crew members on board.
The flight, designated as 6E925, touched down approximately eight minutes earlier than its scheduled arrival time of 4:12 PM. Initial assessments revealed that the extent of the damage to the aircraft, specifically the nose radome, was not apparent to the pilots until after landing. They had reported the lightning strike to Air Traffic Control as a precautionary measure, uncertain of any significant impact on the aircraft during the flight.
The damage was limited to the nose radome, which protects the weather radar. These structures are engineered to endure lightning strikes, and commercial aircraft are certified to handle such occurrences safely. Following the landing, the aircraft, an Airbus A320-251N with the tail registration VT-IQZ, was parked at its designated bay for a post-flight inspection.
Officials confirmed that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was notified of the incident in line with standard operating procedures. The aircraft will remain grounded in Lucknow until engineers conduct a comprehensive inspection and necessary repairs are completed. Clearance from the DGCA will be required before the aircraft can resume operations.
While lightning strikes on commercial aircraft are rare, they are not unheard of. Modern aircraft are designed to safely dissipate electrical charges, allowing them to continue flying without incident. However, each occurrence necessitates a thorough engineering inspection before the aircraft is cleared for further flights, ensuring the safety of future operations.
