An IndiGo aircraft arriving from Navi Mumbai came into contact with a Visual Docking Guidance System pole while being moved into its parking bay at Srinagar airport on Friday morning.
The aircraft involved was IndiGo flight 6E 225, which was being positioned at Bay No. 06 at around 9:02 am on September 4.
Airport authorities said the aircraft came into contact with the VDGS pole during the parking process. All passengers and crew members were reported safe, and no injuries were reported.
Passengers and crew were later deboarded using manual aircraft stairs.
The incident happened after the aircraft had completed its flight and was being positioned at the parking stand. It was therefore a ground-handling incident rather than an accident during takeoff or landing.
The aircraft did sustain damage in the contact, although the full extent was still being assessed. airport authorities said the exact circumstances would be examined by the appropriate authorities and cautioned against drawing conclusions about the cause before the inquiry is completed.
Airport operations continued normally after the incident. Other arrivals and departures were not reported to have been disrupted.
The VDGS, or Visual Docking Guidance System, is used at airport parking stands to help guide an aircraft into its assigned position. The system provides visual information to pilots during the final stage of parking, helping the aircraft stop at the correct location.
Even though the aircraft was already safely on the ground, the incident highlights the risks involved in the final few metres of an aircraft’s movement around an airport apron.
Ground operations involve aircraft, vehicles, personnel and fixed infrastructure operating in close proximity. Parking stands are designed around precise clearances, and a small deviation can result in contact with equipment.
In the Srinagar case, however, authorities have not yet assigned responsibility or identified the exact reason for the aircraft coming into contact with the pole.
That will be determined through the investigation.
For passengers on board flight 6E 225, the incident ended without injuries. They were safely taken off the aircraft, while airport operations continued.
The aircraft will now require inspection to determine the extent of the damage and what action is required before it can return to service.
The investigation is expected to establish what happened during the parking manoeuvre and whether any equipment, procedure or operational factor played a role.
Until that assessment is complete, the Srinagar airport authorities have said no conclusion should be drawn about the cause.
