An IndiGo flight bound for Agartala was struck by lightning at Kolkata Airport, causing delays but no injuries among passengers or crew.
An IndiGo flight destined for Agartala was struck by lightning on the morning of 19 October at Kolkata Airport. The incident occurred amidst a thunderstorm that prompted weather alerts from the Airport Operations Control Centre (AOCC). According to an official from the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the aircraft, specifically IndiGo flight 6E6068, was on stand at aerobridge 56L when it was hit by lightning around 9.30 am.
The lightning strike resulted in a temporary power failure, causing the aircraft’s systems to shut down. At the time of the incident, there were 141 passengers and six crew members on board, all of whom were unharmed. As a precautionary measure, the airline decided to deboard the passengers.
Subsequently, the passengers were transferred to another aircraft, an A321 (registration VT-ICD), which departed at 12.50 pm, significantly later than the scheduled departure time of 9.20 am.
In addition, two ground staff reported minor injuries due to the incident and were taken to a local hospital for evaluation. They were discharged after a thorough medical check-up.
The weather conditions in Kolkata and surrounding districts have been severe, with storms causing waterlogging in several areas and ensuing traffic disruptions throughout the day. IndiGo Airlines has been actively communicating with its passengers regarding updates and safety measures following the incident.
