Summary
- An IndiGo Airbus A320neo missed its exit taxiway and blocked the most important runway at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport resulting from low visibility.
- No injuries were reported, however the aircraft needed to be towed to the parking bay, causing a 15-minute disruption in flight operations.
- This incident isn’t isolated, because the airport has been experiencing fog-induced delays and other disruptions up to now few weeks.
Dheli’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) witnessed an incident on Sunday morning when an IndiGo Airbus A320neo missed its designated exit taxiway upon landing resulting from low visibility. Consequently, the aircraft blocked the airport’s most important runway for about fifteen minutes, impacting flight operations at DEL.
Incident details
The IndiGo Airbus A320-271neo, registered as VT-IZN, was operating flight 6E2221 from Amritsar’s Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport (ATQ) to Dheli’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL). Upon landing on runway 28/10 in Delhi at 08:35 (local time), the A320neo veered astray after failing to locate the designated taxiway to show off the runway resulting from low visibility. It then subsequently stopped at the tip of the runway.
Photo: ANAND G IYER | Shutterstock
No injuries were reported consequently of the incident. Nevertheless, resulting from the aircraft obstructing the most important runway, technical assistance was required to tow the plane to the designated gate area safely. Shortly after the incident, photographs appeared on social media, showing the Airbus A320neo blocking runway 28/10 at DEL airport. An airline spokesperson told Easy Flying,
“IndiGo flight 6E 2221, operating from Amritsar to Delhi, missed the exit taxiway after landing at Delhi airport resulting from low visibility. The aircraft stopped at the tip of the runway and was towed to the parking bay by a tug. IndiGo prioritizes operational safety above all else and regrets any inconvenience caused to passengers.”
In accordance with reports from The Economic Times, the IndiGo aircraft blocked the runway for fifteen minutes, halting all departures and arrivals until the plane was towed off. The aircraft that suffered the incident was a five-year-old Airbus A320-271neo. IndiGo configures the aircraft in an all-economy class cabin in a 3-3 configuration. Each of the 186 seats has 30 inches of pitch and 18 inches of width. The plane has a complete capability of 186 passengers in a single economy class cabin in a three-by-three configuration.
Photo: Wirestock Creators | Shutterstock
Two Pratt and Whitney PW1127G engines power the aircraft. The A320 VT-IZN operated its maiden flight on December 7, 2018, and was delivered to IndiGo Airlines on December 17, 2018. It has operated for the carrier since.
Multiple incidents
Dheli’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), India’s busiest airport, which handles almost 1,400 departures every day, has seen its justifiable share of incidents over the past few weeks. Two weeks ago, a person scaled the high perimeter wall that secures the busy airport at night in a big security breach. The intruder was first spotted at 23:30 (local time) by pilots of an Air India flight that had just arrived once they saw him in front of the aircraft while taxiing.
Photo: Abdul Munaff | Shutterstock
Furthermore, this morning’s incident isn’t isolated, as over the past few weeks, foggy conditions at DEL have led to significant flight disruptions. Since December, the airport has issued multiple advisories regarding fog-induced delays, as visibility plays a vital role in aviation operations to make sure safety. Because of the fog-induced delays, several instances of passenger unrest have surfaced.
In mid-January, a person physically assaulted an IndiGo pilot after his flight from Delhi to Goa was delayed. In a separate incident, passengers refused to depart the tarmac and sat beside their IndiGo plane when their Goa-Delhi flight was diverted to Mumbai.
![IndiGo Airbus A320](https://static1.simpleflyingimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/shutterstock_2325290343.jpg)
Passenger Assaults IndiGo Pilot After Fog-Induced Delay
The incident took place on a Delhi-Goa flight.
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