An IndiGo flight scheduled to depart from Kolkata for Agartala was struck by lightning on Friday morning amid severe thunderstorm activity, prompting the airline to deboard all passengers as a precaution.
The incident occurred at Kolkata airport during a spell of heavy rain and thunderstorms that affected several parts of the city and nearby districts. Airport authorities had already issued weather alerts in view of the deteriorating conditions.
Lightning strike causes power disruption
According to an Airports Authority of India (AAI) official, IndiGo flight 6E6068 was stationed at aerobridge 56L when lightning struck the aircraft at around 9:30 am.
The aircraft involved was an Airbus A320 (VT-IPW). The official said the lightning strike impacted the plane's electrical system, leading to a "sudden power off."
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At the time of the incident, 141 passengers and six crew members were on board. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew members.
Passengers deboarded as precaution
Following the incident, IndiGo decided to deboard all passengers and make alternate arrangements for the journey.
The airline later operated the flight using another aircraft, an A321 (VT-ICD). While the flight was originally scheduled to depart at 9:20 am, it eventually left Kolkata at 12:50 pm with all passengers on board.
Airport officials said that the move was taken to ensure passenger safety and facilitate necessary checks on the affected aircraft.
Two ground staff taken for medical check-up
IndiGo also reported that two ground staff members were slightly "affected" during the incident. They were taken to a hospital for evaluation and were discharged shortly after undergoing medical examinations, the official said.
Thunderstorms continue to affect Kolkata
Kolkata and several adjoining districts witnessed thunderstorms and rainfall from Friday morning, causing waterlogging in multiple locations and disrupting traffic movement.
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The weather conditions also led to operational challenges at the airport, where authorities remained on alert as thunderstorms continued to sweep across parts of southern West Bengal.
FAQs:
What happened to the IndiGo flight at Kolkata airport?
The Agartala-bound IndiGo flight was struck by lightning during a thunderstorm, causing a power disruption and a delayed departure.
Were any passengers injured when lightning hit the IndiGo aircraft?
No passengers were injured, and all 141 travelers were safely deboarded before being flown on another aircraft.
