An IndiGo aircraft flying from Patna to Lucknow landed with a dented nose section after an unidentified object or weather-related event struck it in flight, the Hindustan Times reported. The cause has not been officially established.

Flight 6E925 landed at Lucknow airport at about 4:05 pm with 104 passengers and six crew members on board, the newspaper said. All passengers were reported safe. The aircraft has been grounded for a detailed technical inspection.

An airport spokesperson said the incident did not involve an emergency landing and that the aircraft landed normally, according to the report.

Airport officials said the damage was spotted by airport staff after the aircraft landed. IndiGo was informed, and the aircraft was declared Aircraft on Ground (AOG), meaning it will not be flown until it is cleared after technical checks. The airline's engineering team is assessing the damage, and further details on its extent and cause are expected once the inspection and investigation are complete.

Initial reports said the pilot told Air Traffic Control (ATC) that an incident occurred at about 17,000 feet during descent and that the aircraft experienced a strong jolt. The newspaper said the dented part was the nose cone.

Preliminary information suggests officials are examining whether the aircraft encountered lightning in adverse weather. Some crew members reportedly suggested a lightning strike, but some experts consider that highly unlikely. One expert cited in the report said aircraft exteriors are designed to withstand lightning, with the current travelling along the outer skin and discharging through the wings or tail rather than entering the aircraft.

Aviation experts quoted in the report said thunderstorm clouds can hold large, hidden hailstones or ice chunks, and striking them at high speed can damage the radome, the nose cone housing the radar. A bird strike was also mentioned as a possible cause.

The aircraft was scheduled to operate onward from Lucknow to Ahmedabad. IndiGo notified passengers that the flight had been cancelled and offered them the option to rebook on another flight or receive a full refund, the report said.

According to the newspaper, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has kept the pilot's report confidential for review.

Source: Hindustan Times