Runway Safety Breach: Air India and IndiGo Aircraft Experience Taxiway Wingtip Contact at Mumbai International

Intelligence Report: A significant ground safety incident occurred at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) on [DATE], involving two major commercial aircraft. At approximately 19:30 hours local time, an Air India Airbus A320neo (registration VT-EXF), taxiing for departure to Coimbatore, made wingtip contact with an IndiGo Airbus A320 (registration VT-IFF) that was taxiing post-arrival. Preliminary analysis indicates the incident transpired on a designated taxiway, not an active runway, mitigating immediate collision risks but highlighting critical ground movement protocol vulnerabilities. Both aircraft sustained minor damage to wingtip components and were subsequently withdrawn from service for comprehensive structural inspections by respective maintenance teams. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated a formal investigation to determine causal factors, including potential air traffic control communication lapses, pilot visibility issues during evening operations, or taxiway congestion management failures. This event underscores persistent challenges in India's rapidly expanding aviation infrastructure, where high-traffic airports like CSMIA face increasing ground operational pressures. Recommendations include enhanced ground radar surveillance, mandatory wingtip clearance verification procedures, and revised taxiway lighting standards for low-visibility conditions to prevent recurrence.