IndiGo flight hit by lightning during Patna-Lucknow trip, details here

An IndiGo flight travelling from Patna to Lucknow faced a serious weather-related scare on Wednesday, October 7, 2026.

The aircraft encountered bad weather while approaching Lucknow. Initial reports said the plane was hit by lightning at around 17,000 feet, causing visible damage to the aircraft’s nose.

Despite the incident, the aircraft landed safely at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow. All 104 passengers and six crew members on board were reported safe.

What Happened To The IndiGo Flight?

The flight was travelling from Patna to Lucknow when it encountered unfavourable weather during its approach to the destination.

Reports initially described the incident as a lightning strike. The aircraft's nose was later found to have suffered damage.

However, IndiGo's official account gave an important detail. The airline said Flight 6E 625, operating from Patna to Lucknow on October 7, encountered unfavourable weather, including a hailstorm during landing, which resulted in damage to the aircraft's radome.

The exact contribution of lightning versus hail to the damage is therefore important to distinguish from early reports.

Aircraft Was Flying At Around 17,000 Feet

According to reports, the aircraft encountered the severe weather at around 17,000 feet.

The pilots informed Air Traffic Control about the suspected lightning strike as a precaution. At that point, they were reportedly not certain about the extent of the damage.

The aircraft continued its approach and landed safely in Lucknow.

What Was Damaged In The Plane?

The visible damage was found around the aircraft's nose section.

The damaged part is known as the radome. It is the protective covering at the front of the aircraft that houses and protects the weather radar.

The aircraft was taken out of service after landing so that engineers could carry out a detailed inspection.

Were Passengers Safe?

Yes. All passengers and crew members were reported safe.

Reports said there were no injuries among the people on board.

Did The IndiGo Plane Make An Emergency Landing?

There is some variation in early reporting on this point.

Several reports described the arrival as an emergency landing because of the weather-related incident. However, The Week reported that the airline clarified the aircraft completed its landing normally rather than making an emergency landing.

So, the safest description is that the aircraft landed safely at Lucknow after encountering severe weather and suspected lightning during its approach.

What Happened To The Aircraft After Landing?

The aircraft was grounded at Lucknow airport after the incident.

Engineers were assigned to inspect the aircraft and assess the damage to the nose/radome.

IndiGo said the aircraft would undergo the required maintenance and would return to service only after obtaining the necessary clearances.

What Happened To The Passengers After The Flight?

The aircraft was scheduled to operate another flight after reaching Lucknow.

Because the plane was grounded for inspection, IndiGo arranged another aircraft for the passengers. India Today reported that the passengers later continued their journey to Ahmedabad on a replacement aircraft.

DGCA Starts Probe Into The Incident

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been informed about the incident and launched an investigation.

The damaged aircraft will remain grounded until the necessary technical checks, repairs and regulatory clearances are completed.

The investigation will help establish the exact circumstances behind the damage and whether it was caused by lightning, hail or the combination of severe weather conditions.

Can Lightning Damage A Commercial Aircraft?

Lightning strikes on aircraft can look frightening, but modern commercial aircraft are designed to handle lightning strikes.

Usually, the electrical current travels along the aircraft's outer structure before leaving through another point. This helps protect the people inside the cabin.

However, a suspected lightning strike still requires a detailed inspection because parts of the aircraft can suffer damage.

In this case, the aircraft was grounded for inspection after damage was found around its nose/radome.

Why Was The IndiGo Plane Grounded?

The aircraft was grounded because its nose/radome had suffered visible damage.

Airlines cannot simply return an aircraft to normal service after a suspected lightning strike or significant weather-related damage. Engineers must inspect the aircraft and complete any necessary repairs.

Only after the required checks and regulatory clearance can the aircraft return to commercial operations.

Another IndiGo Lightning Incident

This is not the first recent lightning-related incident involving an IndiGo aircraft.

In June 2026, another IndiGo aircraft was reportedly struck by lightning while it was at Kolkata airport during a thunderstorm. The aircraft was scheduled to operate a flight to Agartala.

The passengers were later moved to another aircraft after the incident.