DGCA probes Air India tail-strike at Bengaluru Airport; AI2651 grounded
Synopsis
An Air India flight carrying 179 people suffered a tail-strike while landing at Bengaluru airport, prompting a DGCA investigation and grounding of the aircraft. The incident lands at a particularly sensitive moment — Indian civil aviation is still reeling from the AI 171 crash that killed 260 people, with that probe now reportedly weeks from conclusion.
Key Takeaways
Air India flight AI2651 suffered a tail-strike during landing at Bengaluru airport on 21 May , with 179 people on board.
All passengers and crew disembarked safely; the aircraft has been grounded for a detailed inspection.
The DGCA has launched a formal investigation to determine the cause of the incident.
Return flight AI2652 (Bengaluru–Delhi) was cancelled due to the grounding; alternative arrangements are being made.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said the AAIB probe into the AI 171 crash ( 260 deaths , 12 June 2025 ) is in its final stages and could conclude within a month.
Families of AI 171 victims have raised concerns over delayed compensation and lack of communication from the airline.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched a formal investigation into a tail-strike incident involving Air India flight AI2651 at Bengaluru airport, officials confirmed on 21 May. The flight, operating the Delhi–Bengaluru route, carried 179 people on board at the time of the incident.
What Happened During Landing
The tail-strike occurred as AI2651 touched down at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru. According to Air India, the aircraft landed safely and all passengers and crew members disembarked normally. Following standard protocol, the aircraft was immediately grounded for a detailed technical inspection.
As a direct consequence of the grounding, the return service — flight AI2652 from Bengaluru to Delhi — was cancelled. The airline stated that alternative arrangements are being made to accommodate affected passengers at the earliest opportunity.
DGCA Steps In
A DGCA official has been assigned to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and establish its cause. The regulator's probe will run parallel to Air India's own internal review, which the airline said would be conducted in line with established aviation procedures. Tail-strikes — where the rear fuselage contacts the runway during takeoff or landing — can cause structural damage and typically trigger mandatory airworthiness checks before a return to service.
Shadow of the AI 171 Crash Investigation
The Bengaluru incident comes as Indian civil aviation remains under intense scrutiny following the Air India flight AI 171 crash on 12 June 2025, in which a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner went down shortly after departing Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad, en route to London Gatwick, claiming 260 lives.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu recently stated that the investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is in its final stages and could be completed within a month. 'The crash investigation is in the final stage and could even be completed in a month. However, the investigation is being done by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and we don't interfere in it. We are giving them all the resources they need,' the minister said.
The AAIB had submitted its preliminary findings to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation on 12 July 2025. Minister Naidu also emphasised that the final report would face international scrutiny, given that foreign nationals were among those who perished.
Victim Families Raise Concerns
Separately, families of the AI 171 victims have raised concerns over a lack of communication and delays in compensation from the airline. Minister Naidu said the ministry is closely monitoring the situation and remains in active contact with Air India to address these grievances.
What Comes Next
The grounded AI2651 aircraft will remain out of service until the DGCA-mandated inspection clears it for airworthiness. With two concurrent Air India-related investigations now under way, pressure is mounting on both the regulator and the airline to demonstrate robust safety oversight. The outcome of the DGCA probe into the Bengaluru tail-strike is expected to determine whether the incident points to a systemic issue or an isolated operational lapse.
Point of View
Another into a crash that killed 260 — expose a pattern of regulatory and operational stress that India's civil aviation sector can ill afford. The DGCA's credibility now hinges on the speed and transparency of both probes. Notably, the AI 171 preliminary report was submitted to the ministry in July 2025, yet a final finding is still pending nearly a year on — a timeline that will fuel scepticism among victim families and international observers alike. The Bengaluru incident, while far less severe, is a reminder that safety culture cannot be compartmentalised: it either runs through the entire operation or it does not.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Air India tail-strike incident at Bengaluru airport?
Air India flight AI2651, operating from Delhi to Bengaluru with 179 people on board, suffered a tail-strike — where the aircraft's rear fuselage contacts the runway — during landing at Kempegowda International Airport. The aircraft landed safely, all passengers and crew disembarked normally, and the plane was subsequently grounded for inspection.
What action has the DGCA taken after the tail-strike?
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched a formal investigation into the incident, with an official assigned to examine the circumstances and determine the cause. The aircraft remains grounded pending a detailed airworthiness inspection.
Was anyone injured in the Air India AI2651 tail-strike?
According to Air India, all 179 passengers and crew members on board disembarked normally following the incident, with no injuries reported. The airline stated the aircraft landed safely before being grounded as a precaution.
How does this incident relate to the Air India AI 171 crash investigation?
The tail-strike comes as the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is finalising its probe into the Air India AI 171 crash of 12 June 2025, which killed 260 people near Ahmedabad. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has said that investigation could conclude within a month.
What happened to passengers on the cancelled return flight AI2652?
The return flight AI2652 from Bengaluru to Delhi was cancelled because the aircraft involved was grounded after the tail-strike. Air India said it is making alternative arrangements to accommodate affected passengers at the earliest.
