Mumbai Airport Ground Incident: Air India and IndiGo Aircraft Sustain Wingtip Contact During Taxiing Operations

A ground incident at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Tuesday resulted in physical contact between two commercial aircraft, raising immediate operational safety concerns. According to preliminary reports, an Air India Airbus A320, stationary and preparing for departure to Coimbatore, sustained damage to its wingtip after contact with a taxiing IndiGo A320 of the same model. Both aircraft were occupied with passengers and crew at the time, though no injuries have been reported. The incident, classified as a ground collision, has prompted an investigation by aviation authorities to determine the precise sequence of events and contributing factors, including potential issues with taxiway procedures, ground crew coordination, or pilot visibility. The Air India flight experienced significant delays, while the IndiGo aircraft's status remains under assessment. This event underscores the critical importance of stringent ground handling protocols at high-traffic hubs like Mumbai, which handles over 1,000 daily movements. Analysts note that while such incidents are rare, they highlight systemic vulnerabilities in apron management that require continuous review to prevent future occurrences and maintain India's aviation safety record.