Two planes scraped wingtips Tuesday night at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. The Mumbai Airport wingtip collision involved an Air India flight and an IndiGo aircraft. It happened right on the tarmac. No one was hurt. Still, the incident triggered an immediate probe by the DGCA.
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Air India and IndiGo Collide on Mumbai Tarmac
The mishap occurred around 7:30 pm. Air India flight AI 2732 was preparing for its run to Coimbatore. At the same time, IndiGo flight 6E 791 arrived from Hyderabad. Both aircraft were Airbus A320s.
They met at a taxiway intersection. The right wingtips brushed. It sounds minor. But on a jet, any metal-on-metal contact is a major red flag. Ground teams rushed to the scene. The planes stopped immediately.
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A Blow-by-Blow Look at the Collision
How did this happen? Air India was pushing back. IndiGo was taxiing in after landing. The timing was tight. Then, the contact happened.
Air India confirmed the damage. A spokesperson said the plane “came into contact” with the other jet. The wingtip was damaged. Passengers had to get off. This caused a big delay for the Coimbatore flight. IndiGo passengers also disembarked after parking. Both planes are now in the hangar.
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The Official Response: Grounding and Probes
The Mumbai division of the DGCA is now on site. Officials are looking at the flight data. They want to know who was at fault. Was it the pilots? Or maybe the ground controllers?
“The aircraft is undergoing maintenance,” the IndiGo spokesperson stated. Air India is making new plans for its travelers. Everyone is safe. That is the main thing. But the planes stay on the ground for now.
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Reality Check
The airlines call this a “minor” brush. Let’s be real. There is nothing minor about two 70-ton machines colliding. The “minor” damage to a wingtip can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Also, Mumbai Airport is notoriously crowded. It handles nearly 1,000 flights a day. The math is simple. More planes in tight spaces lead to errors. This isn’t just bad luck. It is a symptom of a saturated hub. The DGCA often blames “human error,” but the real issue might be the sheer pressure on the ground crew.
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The Loopholes
Standard rules say ground controllers must keep “adequate separation.” But what is “adequate” in a peak-hour rush? The guidelines for wingtip clearance during pushback are often left to the visual judgment of “wing walkers.”
If those walkers aren’t in the right spot, the pilots are flying blind. Furthermore, many ground incidents aren’t publicly detailed unless there is visible damage. We only hear about these because the planes had to return to the bay.
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What This Means for You
Expect delays if you fly through Mumbai this week. Two A320s are now out of service. This creates a “ripple effect” in the schedule. One grounded plane can delay five other flights later in the day.
If your flight is canceled due to “technical issues” from a collision, you have rights. The airline must provide food or a new ticket. Don’t let them call it an “Act of God.” This was a ground mishap.
Next Steps
Check your flight status before heading to the airport. Use the airline apps for real-time updates. If you are on a delayed flight, ask for a refund or a voucher immediately.
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