By Firstdespatch Desk Jun 20, 2026
Kolkata/Agartala, June 20 (FD) A major aviation scare unfolded at Kolkata airport today when lightning struck the auxiliary power unit (APU) of an IndiGo aircraft bound for Agartala while it was parked at the terminal during a severe thunderstorm, triggering a complete power outage on board and causing panic among passengers.
The Airbus A320neo, operating as Flight 6E6068 from Kolkata to Agartala, was carrying 141 passengers and crew members. Boarding had already been completed and the aircraft was connected to an aerobridge at stand 56L when lightning struck between 9.25 am and 9.30 am.
Airport officials said the strike hit the aircraft's APU—a small turbine engine located in the tail section that supplies electrical power for lighting, air conditioning and cockpit systems before the main engines are started. The impact caused an immediate loss of electrical power inside the aircraft.
As a precautionary measure, all passengers were safely deboarded and shifted to the terminal building. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew.
Three ground personnel, including two IndiGo baggage handlers and the driver of a pushback vehicle belonging to another airline, were taken to hospital after reportedly being affected during the incident. Officials later confirmed that all three were discharged after treatment and are in stable condition.
The flight, originally scheduled to depart at 9.20 am, eventually left for Agartala aboard a replacement aircraft at 12.50 pm.
Airport authorities launched mandatory safety inspections on the affected aircraft, which remains grounded pending a detailed technical assessment.
The incident has drawn attention due to its rarity. A senior airport official said he had never witnessed a stationary aircraft being struck by lightning during more than three decades of service.
“Airports are equipped with extensive lightning protection and earthing systems designed to safely dissipate electrical charges. Despite these safeguards, lightning can occasionally strike equipment or structures in extreme weather conditions,” the official said.
According to aviation experts, modern commercial aircraft are built to withstand lightning strikes. An IndiGo official noted that both the aircraft and its APU are designed with lightning protection features.
A senior airline pilot explained that aircraft are fitted with static discharge probes on the wings and tail, which safely channel electrical charges away from critical systems. “Lightning strikes generally do not cause major structural damage, although some components may require inspection or replacement. Aircraft are specifically engineered to handle such events,” he said.
The incident occurred amid intense thunderstorm activity across south Bengal. The India Meteorological Department reported multiple lightning events across several districts, including North 24 Parganas and the Kolkata metropolitan region.
Meteorologists said cloud-to-ground lightning, which appears closer and is potentially more dangerous, was observed in the Dum Dum area around the time of the incident. Such strikes occur when an electrical imbalance between storm clouds and the ground is suddenly neutralised through a powerful discharge.
Bengal remains one of India's most lightning-prone regions. According to the South Asia Lightning Report, the state records among the highest densities of cloud-to-ground lightning strikes in the country. In one of the deadliest such incidents, lightning claimed 27 lives across Bengal on May 7, 2021.
Friday's incident ended without casualties, but it served as a stark reminder of the risks posed by extreme weather and the critical importance of aviation safety protocols during severe thunderstorms. FD JK