ISLAMABAD: A concerning ground collision took place on Tuesday at Mumbai’sChhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport when the wings of twopassenger-carrying aircraft made contact during taxiing operations. Theincident involved Air India flight AI 2732, scheduled to depart forCoimbatore, and IndiGo flight 6E 791, which had recently arrived fromHyderabad. No injuries were reported among the passengers or crew on boardeither aircraft, and both planes returned safely to their respective baysfor inspection. Aviation authorities have initiated a formal probe todetermine the exact cause and assess any operational lapses at one ofIndia’s busiest airports.
The collision occurred while Air India flight AI 2732 was pushing back fromits parking bay and preparing for departure. At the same time, the IndiGoaircraft was taxiing after landing, leading to the wingtips scrapingagainst each other in a low-speed contact. Sources familiar with the matterindicated that the incident happened on a taxiway during a period of hightraffic density at the airport. Both flights were fully loaded withpassengers, heightening the potential risks associated with even minorground mishaps in such congested environments.
Air India promptly confirmed the event in an official statement, notingthat flight AI 2732 experienced a delay following the contact with theother aircraft while waiting on the taxiway prior to take-off. Allpassengers on board were safely disembarked once the aircraft returned tothe bay. The airline emphasized that safety remains its top priority andthat full cooperation is being extended to investigators examining thecircumstances surrounding the incident.
IndiGo has also acknowledged the occurrence, stating that its aircraftinvolved in the taxiing manoeuvre sustained minor contact but that nopassengers were harmed. The low-cost carrier confirmed that the flight fromHyderabad landed normally before the ground contact took place duringsubsequent movements on the airport surface. Both operators are conductinginternal reviews alongside the regulatory investigation to evaluateaircraft damage and procedural adherence.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, India’s aviation watchdog, hasdispatched officials to the site to lead the inquiry. Preliminaryassessments focus on factors such as taxiway clearance protocols, groundhandling coordination, and visibility conditions at the time of the event.Mumbai airport, handling millions of passengers annually, frequentlyexperiences peak-hour congestion, which can strain ground movementmanagement and increase the likelihood of such incidents despite robustsafety measures.
Experts in aviation safety point out that wingtip collisions on the ground,though not uncommon in busy hubs, often stem from miscommunication betweenpilots, air traffic control, or ground staff. These events typically resultin limited structural damage to wingtips or winglets, necessitatingthorough inspections and potential repairs before the aircraft can resumeoperations. In this case, the absence of injuries underscores therelatively low kinetic energy involved in the contact, but it still promptsscrutiny of taxi procedures.
Such incidents highlight ongoing challenges at major Indian airports amidrapid growth in air traffic. Mumbai’s single-runway constraints in the pasthave been partially alleviated by infrastructure upgrades, yet groundoperations remain complex with multiple aircraft movements occurringsimultaneously. Regulatory bodies have repeatedly stressed the need forenhanced training and technology to prevent ground incursions andcollisions, especially as passenger numbers continue to surge post-pandemic.
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No major disruptions to airport operations were reported beyond delays tothe affected flights. Both airlines arranged alternative arrangements forpassengers where necessary, ensuring minimal inconvenience. The event hasdrawn attention to the importance of stringent adherence to standardoperating procedures during ground manoeuvres to avert escalation into moreserious accidents.
Aviation observers note that while this collision was minor, it serves as areminder of the critical nature of ground safety protocols. Investigationsare expected to conclude with recommendations aimed at furtherstrengthening coordination among airlines, airport authorities, andregulators to maintain high safety standards at congested facilities likeMumbai airport.
Source:https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/air-india-indigo-jets-involved-in-collision-at-mumbai-airport-no-injuries-reported-2862626-2026-02-03
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