New Delhi: An IndiGo flight from Patna to Lucknow was struck by lightning at an altitude of 17,000 feet on Wednesday, leaving the nose of the aircraft damaged, but it landed safely at Lucknow's Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport with all 104 passengers and six crew members unharmed.
Flight 6E 625, operating the Patna-Lucknow sector on October 7, encountered severe weather, including a hailstorm, during the landing phase of the flight. The lightning strike damaged the aircraft's radome, the protective cover mounted over the weather radar at the nose of the plane.
Conflicting accounts on the landing
Some initial reports described the landing as an emergency landing, with the aircraft touching down eight minutes ahead of its scheduled 4:12 pm arrival time. However, an IndiGo spokesperson later clarified that the aircraft did not make an emergency landing and completed its landing normally at Lucknow airport.
"IndiGo flight 6E 625 operating from Patna to Lucknow on 07 October 2026 encountered unfavourable weather, including a hailstorm while landing, resulting in damage to the radome. The aircraft landed safely, and all customers disembarked at their destination," the spokesperson said, adding that the relevant authorities were informed immediately.
The pilots had reported the suspected lightning strike to air traffic control as a precaution, since they were not immediately certain about the extent of the damage.
Probe ordered, aircraft grounded
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, India's aviation regulator, has launched a probe into the incident. The aircraft has been withdrawn from service and will undergo detailed inspections and maintenance before being allowed to fly again, and only after receiving the required regulatory clearance.
The incident comes close on the heels of another weather-related occurrence involving the airline last month, when a Guwahati-Bengaluru flight suffered a tail strike while landing at Kempegowda International Airport. That aircraft was also grounded for checks.
Sources:
NDTV: IndiGo Flight To Lucknow Hit By Lightning At 17,000 Feet, Nose Damaged
Business Standard: IndiGo flight to Lucknow suffers nose damage due to lightning, lands safely
The Week: Lightning strikes IndiGo flight: what happens to an aircraft when it is hit mid-air
Flight 6E 625, operating the Patna-Lucknow sector on October 7, encountered severe weather, including a hailstorm, during the landing phase of the flight. The lightning strike damaged the aircraft's radome, the protective cover mounted over the weather radar at the nose of the plane.
Conflicting accounts on the landing
Some initial reports described the landing as an emergency landing, with the aircraft touching down eight minutes ahead of its scheduled 4:12 pm arrival time. However, an IndiGo spokesperson later clarified that the aircraft did not make an emergency landing and completed its landing normally at Lucknow airport.
"IndiGo flight 6E 625 operating from Patna to Lucknow on 07 October 2026 encountered unfavourable weather, including a hailstorm while landing, resulting in damage to the radome. The aircraft landed safely, and all customers disembarked at their destination," the spokesperson said, adding that the relevant authorities were informed immediately.
The pilots had reported the suspected lightning strike to air traffic control as a precaution, since they were not immediately certain about the extent of the damage.
Probe ordered, aircraft grounded
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, India's aviation regulator, has launched a probe into the incident. The aircraft has been withdrawn from service and will undergo detailed inspections and maintenance before being allowed to fly again, and only after receiving the required regulatory clearance.
The incident comes close on the heels of another weather-related occurrence involving the airline last month, when a Guwahati-Bengaluru flight suffered a tail strike while landing at Kempegowda International Airport. That aircraft was also grounded for checks.
Sources:
NDTV: IndiGo Flight To Lucknow Hit By Lightning At 17,000 Feet, Nose Damaged
Business Standard: IndiGo flight to Lucknow suffers nose damage due to lightning, lands safely
The Week: Lightning strikes IndiGo flight: what happens to an aircraft when it is hit mid-air
