The wing tips of two aircraft collided at Mumbai Airport today. The incident happened when the wings of an incoming Kuwait Airways aircraft and an outbound IndiGo narrow body aircraft clipped before 6am when it was still dark.
The sharklet of an IndiGo Airbus A-320 (reg. V-TIFP) was damaged. The plane returned to the terminal.
In a statement, IndiGo said: “IndiGo confirms that the wing tip of its Airbus A-320 aircraft came in contact with the wing tip of the Airbus A-330… of an international operator… while taxiing at Mumbai airport Wednesday morning. At about 5.45am, while the aircraft of this international airline was taxiing toward the parking stand, at the same time an IndiGo flight (flight #6E207) was taxiing to depart to Jaipur from taxiway N and W under air traffic control’s (ATC) instruction.“
“Approximately at 5.45am, the pilot of this international airline was advised by ATC to move ahead to make way for IndiGo aircraft.As per (rules), while an aircraft is on taxiway N, Taxiway W4 must not be permitted to use as standard wingtip clearance is not met… Hence, due to the taxiing process, the Airbus 320 aircraft of IndiGo came in contact with Airbus A330,“ IndiGo said.
Kuwait Airways’ spokesperson Andrew Chupeau said in a mail: “As the Kuwait Airways A-330 was in a holding stationary position when the incident took place, the IndiGo A-320 came into contact with the Kuwait Airways A-330… Kuwait Airways can confirm that no passengers were at risk; however, it is understood that the wingtip of an A-320 aircraft scratched Kuwait Airways’ A330 (reg. 9-KAPA) left outboard flap. Kuwait Airways is cooperating fully with both Indian civil aviation authorities and Kuwait’s DGCA, in order to investigate this incident.“ The flight #KU301, had flown into Mumbai from Kuwait City .
The IndiGo spokesperson said one of its passengers saw the wings clipping and “immediately alerted the crew.The highly experienced pilotin-command operating 6E 207 immediately decided to take precautionary measure and returned the aircraft to the parking bay. The flight crew ensured to keep all passengers informed about the situation and assured to maintain calm on board. All passengers were safely accommodated to the other aircraft.“