• Source:JND

IndiGo Flight: An Agartala-bound IndiGo aircraft was struck by lightning while on stand at the Kolkata airport on Friday during a thunderstorm, creating panic among passengers. An Airports Authority of India (AAI) official said the incident occurred amid prevailing thunderstorm and rain conditions, for which the Airport Operations Control Centre (AOCC) had issued weather alerts. No passengers were injured in the incident.

Two Crew Members Slightly Affected

According to IndiGo, two ground staff were slightly "affected" and were taken to a hospital for treatment. They were discharged immediately after a medical check-up. The flight, originally scheduled to leave at 9.20 am, departed with the passengers at 12.50 pm.

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147 People Were On Board

The official said no passengers were injured in the incident. All 141 passengers and six crew members were disembarked as a precautionary measure. They were later transferred to another flight, VT-ICD, which flew to Agartala.

Lightning Affected Aircraft's Power System

According to the airline, the aircraft, IndiGo flight 6E6068 (VT-IPW), was on stand at aerobridge 56L when it was struck by lightning around 9.30 am. The lightning affected the aircraft's power system, causing a "sudden power off."

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There were 141 passengers and six crew members in the A320 aircraft when the lightning struck. As a precautionary measure, the airline deboarded the passengers, who later departed on an A321 aircraft (VT-ICD).

IndiGo Release Advisory

The airline issued a travel advisory amid inclement weather in Kolkata. "Bad weather over #Kolkata has impacted flight schedules. We are closely monitoring the weather and doing our best to get you where you need to be, safely and smoothly. We request that you stay updated on your flight status via our website or app. Please be assured that our teams are here to assist you at every step and provide full support. Thank you for your patience and understanding," the advisory read.

Kolkata and adjoining districts have been experiencing thunderstorms and rain since Friday morning, leading to waterlogging in several areas and traffic disruptions.

(With PTI inputs)


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