DGCA- Mumbai Airport Wingtip Contact Triggers Official Safety Inquiry

DGCA- India’s aviation regulator has opened a formal investigation after two passenger aircraft made contact while taxiing at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, raising fresh attention on ground movement safety at one of the country’s busiest hubs.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation confirmed that the incident occurred late Tuesday night during routine ground operations. The contact involved the wing tips of two narrow-body aircraft from different airlines, both operating Airbus A320 planes. No injuries were reported, and flight operations at the airport continued without major disruption.

Details of the Ground Movement Incident

According to officials familiar with the matter, the Air India aircraft was preparing for departure when the incident occurred. Flight AI2732, operated using an Airbus A320 registered as VT-TYF, was taxiing from parking bay C1 toward M4 in readiness for takeoff.

At the same time, an IndiGo Airbus A320, bearing registration VT-IFV, had just arrived and was taxiing along taxiway B1. During this phase of ground movement, the right wing tips of the two aircraft came into contact. The exact sequence of events that led to the overlap in clearance is now under examination.

Airport and airline procedures require strict separation between aircraft during taxiing, particularly in congested areas where multiple arrivals and departures are coordinated simultaneously.

Immediate Response and Inspection Measures

Following the contact, both aircraft were withdrawn from active movement and escorted back to their respective bays. Engineers from the airlines carried out preliminary inspections to assess any visible damage to the wings and surrounding structures.

Officials from the DGCA’s Mumbai regional office arrived at the airport soon after the incident to carry out an on-site assessment. These checks are part of standard protocol and are aimed at determining whether there was any technical damage, procedural lapse, or communication issue that contributed to the event.

The regulator has indicated that a detailed report will be prepared after inspections are completed and statements are collected from the flight crews and air traffic control personnel involved.

Regulator’s Parallel Focus on Aircraft Safety Systems

The taxiing incident comes a day after the aviation watchdog issued a clarification on a separate safety-related matter involving an Air India wide-body aircraft. On Tuesday, the DGCA released a rejoinder addressing concerns over an alleged malfunction of a fuel control switch on a Boeing 787-8 aircraft.

The issue had been reported by a flight crew on two occasions on January 1, prompting precautionary action and regulatory scrutiny. The aircraft was grounded as a safety measure while checks were conducted.

Findings From the Fuel Switch Examination

In its statement, the DGCA explained that both the left and right fuel cut-off switches were examined and found to be functioning as designed. Inspectors noted that the locking mechanism was properly seated and did not shift from the RUN position during normal operation.

However, the regulator clarified that when force was applied in an incorrect direction, the switch could move from RUN to CUTOFF. This, according to the findings, was due to the angular design of the base plate, which allows movement if pressure is applied improperly using a finger or thumb.

When force was applied parallel to the base plate, the switch remained secure, the DGCA said, indicating no inherent mechanical fault.

Airline Communication With the Regulator

An Air India spokesperson confirmed that a pilot had reported a possible defect in the fuel control switch on the Boeing 787-8 aircraft. The airline said the matter was promptly communicated to the DGCA, in line with mandatory safety reporting requirements.

Both developments underscore the regulator’s continued focus on operational safety, covering not only in-flight systems but also ground handling and aircraft movement, which remain critical components of aviation risk management.