IndiGo Flight Struck by Lightning During Patna to Lucknow Journey

An IndiGo flight, numbered 6E925, was struck by lightning while flying at an altitude of approximately 17,000 feet on Wednesday. The incident occurred during its route from Patna to Lucknow, resulting in damage to the aircraft's nose. Despite this, the pilots managed to land the Airbus A320-251N safely at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport. The flight touched down at about 4.04 pm, eight minutes ahead of its scheduled arrival at 4.12 pm, with 104 passengers and six crew members on board.

Upon landing, it became evident that the lightning strike had caused damage to the aircraft's nose radome, which houses the weather radar system. The pilots were reportedly unaware of the extent of the damage during the flight but had taken precautionary measures by informing Air Traffic Control (ATC) about the incident.

Following standard operating procedures, post-flight checks were conducted, during which technicians confirmed the need for repairs. Consequently, the aircraft was grounded at Lucknow airport. IndiGo subsequently arranged an alternative aircraft to ferry the passengers to their final destination, Ahmedabad, with a departure time of approximately 6.22 pm.

Airport authorities noted that the damage was only discovered once the aircraft had vacated the runway and was parked at its designated bay. Repair work is ongoing, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been informed about the situation. The aircraft will only return to service once repairs are completed and DGCA clearance is received. This incident has raised discussions around the safety measures and protocols in place for aircraft facing adverse weather conditions during flight.