An IndiGo aircraft operating from Navi Mumbai to Srinagar came into contact with a Visual Docking Guidance System (VDGS) pole while being positioned at a parking bay at Srinagar Airport on Friday morning. The incident damaged the aircraft, but all passengers and crew members were reported safe.

The incident involved IndiGo flight 6E 225, operated by aircraft VT-NOG. According to airport authorities, the aircraft was being positioned at Bay No. 6 at around 9:02 am when it came into contact with the VDGS pole during the parking process. No injuries were reported.

Aircraft Hits Pole While Parking

The flight had arrived in Srinagar from Navi Mumbai and had already landed safely when the incident occurred during the subsequent parking manoeuvre.

The aircraft's forward section sustained damage after making contact with the pole. Passengers and crew were subsequently deboarded safely using manual mobile aircraft stairs.

Airport operations were not disrupted by the incident, with arrivals and departures continuing according to schedule, officials said. 

All Passengers and Crew Safe

The immediate priority following the incident was to safely evacuate everyone on board. Airport authorities confirmed that there were no reported injuries among passengers or crew.

IndiGo also said the aircraft had landed safely and that passengers and crew had deplaned. The airline said relevant authorities were informed and that the matter was being investigated in accordance with established procedures. 

The incident therefore remained a ground-handling and parking-related event rather than an accident during flight.

What Is VDGS?

The Visual Docking Guidance System is installed at aircraft parking stands to help pilots position an aircraft accurately within a designated bay.

The system provides visual information that assists with alignment and stopping at the appropriate position. Because it is located within the parking area, contact with a VDGS structure can cause damage to an aircraft even after a flight has completed its landing.

In this case, the aircraft came into contact with the VDGS pole while being positioned at Bay No. 6. 

Cause Yet to Be Determined

Authorities have not established the cause of the incident. The Airport Authority of India said the details and circumstances leading to the contact would be examined by the competent authorities.

Officials have specifically indicated that no conclusion about the cause should be drawn before the inquiry is completed. This means factors such as aircraft alignment, visibility, docking-system indications, ground procedures or other operational issues cannot currently be identified as the reason for the incident.

An investigation report has been sought to establish what led to the aircraft making contact with the pole. 

Srinagar Airport Operations Normal

Despite the damage to the aircraft, airport operations continued normally following the incident. There were no reported disruptions to scheduled arrivals and departures as a result of the event.

The affected aircraft is expected to undergo appropriate inspection before any further operation. The extent of the damage and its impact on the aircraft's serviceability will be determined through the technical assessment.

The incident comes amid heightened attention on aviation safety after several recent IndiGo operational incidents, including a Goa-Delhi flight that returned to the airport shortly after take-off because of a reported technical issue and a Doha-Bengaluru flight that was diverted to Muscat after its pilot became unwell. 

For now, authorities are focused on determining the circumstances surrounding the Srinagar ground incident, while passenger safety and normal airport operations remain unaffected.