An IndiGo aircraft bound for Agartala is struck by lightning while it is parked at Kolkata airport during a thunderstorm on Friday morning, according to multiple reports. The incident involves IndiGo flight 6E6068 (A320, VT-IPW) while the plane is on stand at an aerobridge, amid weather conditions that include rain and thunderstorms. Airports Authority of India officials say airport operations issue weather alerts and that the lightning affects the aircraft’s power system, causing a “sudden power off.”
The reports state that none of the 141 passengers and six crew members on board are injured. As a precaution, the airline deboards passengers and later operates the scheduled trip using a different aircraft (an A321, VT-ICD). Two ground personnel are briefly affected; they are taken for medical evaluation and discharged after checks.
The originally scheduled departure is affected, with the flight eventually leaving later in the day for Agartala. The wider area around Kolkata continues to experience thunderstorms and rain, with some reports citing waterlogging and traffic disruptions.
