RUNWAY CONTACT INCIDENT AT KOLKATA AIRPORT: AKASA AIR BOEING 737 MAX 8 GROUNDED AFTER TAIL STRIKE

October 31, 2026

An Akasa Air Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft operating flight QP 1925 from Ahmedabad to Kolkata suffered a tail-strike incident during landing at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport on Saturday morning, October 31. Although the aircraft landed safely and all passengers disembarked without injury, a subsequent post-flight inspection revealed that its rear section had made contact with the runway.

According to the airline, the aircraft had performed a go-around while approaching Kolkata before completing its landing. A go-around is a standard aviation safety procedure in which pilots discontinue an approach and climb back to a safe altitude before attempting another landing. Following the incident, the aircraft was kept grounded at Kolkata airport for a detailed technical inspection.

Akasa Air confirmed that the tail section had come into contact with the ground during the landing sequence. The airline stated that established aviation safety protocols had been followed and that the relevant authorities had been informed. An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is currently underway.

According to flight-tracking information, the aircraft arrived at Kolkata airport at approximately 7.40 am. The airline did not disclose the total number of passengers on board, while detailed findings from the aircraft's technical inspection were not immediately available.

A tail strike occurs when an aircraft's rear fuselage touches the runway, generally during take-off or landing, and can potentially damage the aircraft's structural components. The extent of the damage and the circumstances that led to the runway contact will be subject to technical assessment as the investigation progresses. The incident has once again brought attention to aviation safety procedures and aircraft inspection requirements following unusual landing events.