Air India Delhi-Bengaluru flight suffers ‘tail-strike’ during landing; aircraft grounded — what we know so far

An Air India flight from Delhi to Bengaluru suffered a 'tail-strike' during landing at the Bengaluru airport on Thursday, May 21. The aircraft landed safely, and all passengers and crew disembarked normally, an airline spokesperson said. Following the incident, the aircraft was grounded, and the return flight (from Bengaluru to Delhi) was cancelled. The airline said, “Alternative arrangements are being made to accommodate affected passengers at the earliest.” Also Read | Air India Boeing 787 aircraft grounded over faulty fuel control switch “Air India flight AI2651 operating from Delhi to Bengaluru on May 21 experienced a tail-strike during landing. The aircraft landed safely, and all passengers and crew disembarked normally,” the spokesperson said. The official added, “The aircraft has been grounded for detailed inspection.” The statement further assured that the incident will be investigated in accordance with established procedures, “in coordination with the relevant regulatory authorities.” Also Read | Air India trims international network – What to do if your flight is cancelled “As a result, the return flight AI2652 from Bengaluru to Delhi has been cancelled. Alternative arrangements are being made to accommodate affected passengers at the earliest,” the statement added. “Our ground teams in Bengaluru are providing all necessary assistance. Air India regrets the inconvenience caused. The safety of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority,” the Air India spokesperson said. What is a tail strike? A tail strike occurs during take-off, landing or go-around when the attitude of an aircraft is such that the tail contacts the runway, which can subsequently lead to outcomes such as loss of control (LOC), runway excursion (RE), the International Air Transport Association (IATA) explained in its 2025 report. According to the IATA Annual Safety Report, between 2020 and mid-2025, the industry has recorded 38 tail strikes rated as accidents. Also Read | Air India cuts flights as West Asia conflict raises fuel costs, weakens demand The report provides access to Tail Strikes accident data, both globally and regionally. This is a valuable source of information regarding accident precursors trends and patterns, allowing members to gain insights to fuel proactive risk management activities. Are tail-strikes deadly? The IATA says that although there is typically a low risk of fatalities, these occurrences can cause significant damage to aircraft, incur repair costs, aircraft downtime, increased usage of maintenance repair organisation capacity and lost revenue. In the case of Boeing 747 accident, an improperly repaired pressure bulkhead, that had been damaged by a tail strike, lead to the in-flight loss of the vertical stabiliser and subsequent crash of the aircraft seven years later, according to Skybrary. The case of Turkish Airlines Airbus A321neo An official investigation determined that excessive nose-up rotation during a low altitude go-around caused a tail strike on a Turkish Airlines Airbus A321neo at Dublin Airport last October, ANI reported. The Airbus A321-271NX (registration TC-LTL), carrying 103 passengers and 7 crew, was landing on Runway 28L on 18 October 2024 when it drifted left of the centreline due to sudden wind changes. After briefly touching down on its left main landing gear, the aircraft bounced slightly, touched down again on both main gears, and the captain immediately called for a go-around. Also Read | Air India clocks record annual loss in threat to turnaround plans The first officer, who was flying, responded by pulling the sidestick fully back and advancing the thrust levers to full take-off/go-around (TOGA) power. The aircraft's pitch angle rose sharply, triggering a "PITCH PITCH" aural warning, and the tail slammed into the runway just before the plane became airborne again. The aircraft circled back, made a normal second landing 13 minutes later, and all passengers disembarked safely. However, the tail sustained substantial damage, including a 3.4 metre long tear in the lower skin and cracks in the supporting structure, some inside the pressurised section of the fuselage, the report added.