India: IndiGo aircraft hits stationary Air India Express plane at Kolkata airport

Indian civil aviation authority off-rostered pilots of Indigo airlines after one of its aircraft hit a stationaryAir India Express plane at the Kolkata airport on Wednesday (Mar 27). Media reports citing the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said that the body off-rostered IndiGo airlines pilots after the incident which took place during taxiing in the state.

The two aircraft were Air India Express' 737-800 registered as VT-TGG and IndiGo Airlines' A320neo registered as VT-ISS. The incident took place at the airport's Runway 19R.

The incident unfolded as both planes were en route to their respective destinations – VT-TGG bound for Chennai and VT-ISS for Darbhanga. Following the collision, both aircraft returned to the bay, media reports said.

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An Air India Express spokesperson reportedly said that the "wingtip of a taxiing aircraft of another airline grazed one of our aircraft, which was stationary and awaiting clearance to enter the runway at Kolkata for a scheduled operation to Chennai."

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"The aircraft has since returned to the bay and further investigation is underway, for which we are coordinating with the regulator and airport authorities. We apologise for the inconvenience caused to guests due to external circumstances," the spokesperson added.

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A few days ago, an Air India Express flight from Sharjah to Surat collided with a parked truck upon landing at Surat International Airport.Airportauthorities later submitted a report to the DGCA and the affected aircraft was temporarily grounded.The incident is speculated to be linked to ongoing construction activities where one truck was left unattended on the runway.

In a separate incident from last November, two IndiGo aircraft narrowly avoided a collision moments after take-off from Delhi airport.

(With inputs from agencies)