Car hits parked IndiGo plane at Kolkata Airport, aircraft grounded

A parked IndiGo aircraft was hit by a catering vehicle at Kolkata airport on Wednesday evening. The aircraft was grounded for inspection after the incident. 

The crash happened at parking bay number 51. According to sources, the catering vehicle lost control, rolled forward, and hit engine of waiting aircraft. The vehicle was unmanned at time of the accident.

In a statement, IndiGo said that a third-party unmanned vehicle on apron moved and came in contact with parked aircraft. The airline added that aircraft is now undergoing detailed inspection and maintenance before it can return to service.

The plane was scheduled to operate flight 6E 6663 from Kolkata to Guwahati. Indigo arranged another aircraft so that flight could continue without major delay. The airline also said it will work with airport authorities to investigate the incident.

This is not first such case. In February, two passenger planes touched wingtips while taxiing at Mumbai airport, but all passengers were safe. Last August, an IndiGo Airbus A321 aircraft's tail had touched the runway in Mumbai while powering up for a go-around manoeuvre in low altitude.