IndiGo Patna-Lucknow Flight Nose Damaged in Severe Weather; DGCA Probes Suspected Lightning Strike
An IndiGo flight from Patna to Lucknow landed safely with 104 passengers and six crew after severe weather damaged its nose radome. Lightning is among the causes being examined, while IndiGo says the aircraft encountered a hailstorm. DGCA has begun examining the incident.
IndiGo aircraft undergoing a technical inspection at Lucknow airport after its nose radome was damaged during severe weather
Table of Contents (21 sections)
An IndiGo aircraft flying from Patna to Lucknow on October 7, 2026 landed safely after encountering severe weather that damaged the nose radome of the aircraft, with all 104 passengers and six crew members reported safe.
Initial reports from Lucknow said the aircraft was struck by lightning at an altitude of around 17,000 feet while approaching Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport. However, the precise cause of the damage has not yet been conclusively established.
IndiGo, in a statement reported by multiple news organisations, said the flight encountered unfavourable weather, including a hailstorm, during the landing phase and that the weather event resulted in damage to the aircraft's radome.
A preliminary airport account cited by PTI said the possibility of a lightning encounter during adverse weather was being examined. It also said the aircraft landed normally at around 4 p.m. and that the damage was noticed after landing.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, or DGCA, has begun examining the incident, and the aircraft has been taken out of service pending technical inspection, maintenance and the necessary regulatory clearance.
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What Happened to the IndiGo Patna-Lucknow Flight?
The aircraft was operating a scheduled service from Patna to Lucknow on Wednesday, October 7.
Several airport-source reports identify the service as IndiGo flight 6E925 and say it departed Patna at around 3:10 p.m. before reaching Lucknow shortly after 4 p.m.
The flight encountered adverse weather during its approach to Lucknow.
Airport sources quoted in initial reports said the aircraft experienced a lightning strike at approximately 17,000 feet. The pilots reportedly informed Air Traffic Control about the weather encounter as a precaution.
The aircraft continued to Lucknow and touched down safely.
All 104 passengers and six crew members — 110 people in total — were reported unhurt.
Was the Aircraft Definitely Hit by Lightning?
That remains the key point under examination.
Several initial reports, relying on airport sources, described the incident as a lightning strike and said it occurred at around 17,000 feet.
But IndiGo's own statement used more cautious and somewhat different language.
The airline said the flight:
encountered unfavourable weather;
experienced a hailstorm during the landing phase;
sustained damage to its radome;
landed safely; and
allowed all passengers to disembark normally.
A separate preliminary account said possible causes being considered included hail, ice or lightning, and noted that no final official cause had yet been established.
For that reason, the most accurate description at this stage is that the aircraft suffered radome damage during severe weather, with a suspected lightning strike among the possibilities being investigated.
What Part of the Aircraft Was Damaged?
The damage was to the aircraft's radome, the rounded structure forming the nose of the aircraft.
The radome protects the weather-radar antenna located in the front of many commercial aircraft.
Photographs circulating after the incident showed substantial visible deformation to the front section, while reports said the damage became apparent after the aircraft had left the runway and reached its parking position.
Damage to a radome does not by itself establish whether lightning, hail or another weather-related impact caused it.
That determination requires physical inspection of the aircraft and assessment of evidence from the flight.
Did the Flight Make an Emergency Landing?
Some early reports described the arrival as an emergency landing.
However, a later preliminary account cited by PTI specifically said that the incident did not involve an emergency landing and that the aircraft landed normally.
IndiGo's statement similarly said simply that the aircraft landed safely at Lucknow.
Until DGCA or the airline issues a more detailed finding, describing it as a safe landing following a severe-weather encounter is more precise than stating unequivocally that there was an emergency landing.
Were Any Passengers Injured?
No injuries were reported.
The aircraft was carrying:
104 passengers
6 crew members
110 people in total
All passengers and crew were reported safe after landing at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport.
IndiGo said all customers disembarked at their destination.
When Did the Aircraft Land?
Airport-source reporting places the landing at approximately 4:04–4:05 p.m. on October 7.
One report said the scheduled arrival was around 4:12 p.m., meaning the aircraft reached Lucknow several minutes ahead of that published schedule.
The precise timetable is less important to the investigation than the weather conditions, aircraft damage and sequence of events immediately before and after landing.
What Aircraft Was Involved?
Multiple reports identify the aircraft as an Airbus A320-251N, registration VT-IQZ.
Public flight-history information also identifies VT-IQZ as an IndiGo Airbus A320-251N and lists flight 6E925 on the Patna-Lucknow sector on October 7.
There is, however, a discrepancy in published flight numbers.
Most airport-source accounts and flight-history data identify the service as 6E925, while IndiGo's statement as reproduced by several news organisations refers to 6E625.
Until the airline or regulator clarifies that discrepancy, it is safer not to place the flight number prominently in the headline.
What Happened After Landing?
Once the damage was identified, the aircraft was declared Aircraft on Ground, meaning it was removed from normal operations pending technical assessment.
IndiGo said the aircraft would undergo the required maintenance and would return to service only after securing the necessary clearances.
The aircraft had reportedly been scheduled to operate a subsequent Lucknow-Ahmedabad service.
According to airport-source reporting, IndiGo arranged another aircraft for that onward service.
What Is DGCA Investigating?
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation is examining the circumstances surrounding the weather encounter and damage.
The investigation can help establish issues such as:
the precise weather conditions encountered;
whether lightning actually struck the aircraft;
the role of hail or ice;
the nature and extent of the radome damage;
whether any other aircraft systems were affected;
the aircraft's maintenance requirements;
and whether required operating and reporting procedures were followed.
Reports say the aircraft will require the applicable regulatory clearance before returning to service.
A DGCA investigation does not by itself imply negligence or wrongdoing. Aviation authorities routinely examine significant aircraft occurrences to determine what happened and whether any further safety action is needed.
Can Lightning Damage an Aircraft?
Yes, lightning can cause physical damage to an aircraft, although modern commercial aircraft are designed with lightning protection in mind.
The US Federal Aviation Administration explains that when an aircraft becomes part of a lightning path, electrical current may travel through or across parts of the aircraft structure.
Possible physical effects can include localised heating, surface damage and damage to non-conductive structures such as radomes.
That does not mean every lightning strike results in serious damage.
The effect depends on factors including where the strike attaches, its intensity, the aircraft structure and the systems involved.
After a suspected strike, inspection is important to determine whether repairs are necessary.
Why Is the Radome More Vulnerable?
Unlike much of an aircraft's metallic exterior, a radome must allow radar signals to pass through it.
It therefore uses materials selected for electromagnetic transparency rather than simply functioning as a solid metallic shell.
That construction means a radome can be vulnerable to physical effects from:
hail;
severe precipitation;
lightning attachment;
impact damage;
or combinations of severe-weather conditions.
The FAA notes that lightning can create damage in non-conductive enclosures such as radomes.
The exact mechanism behind the IndiGo damage remains subject to technical examination.
Could Hail Cause This Type of Damage?
Severe hail can damage exposed aircraft surfaces, including nose sections, windshields and leading edges.
That is particularly relevant here because IndiGo specifically mentioned a hailstorm when describing the conditions encountered by the flight.
This is why it would be premature to attribute the entire visible nose damage solely to lightning before investigators complete their assessment.
The aircraft may have encountered multiple severe-weather hazards during the same period.
Why Can an Aircraft Still Land With Radome Damage?
The nose radome protects equipment, particularly the weather radar, but it is not the primary load-bearing structure responsible for keeping the aircraft airborne.
Depending on the extent and nature of the damage, an aircraft may remain controllable and capable of a normal landing.
That does not make visible radome damage insignificant.
It still requires engineering inspection to ensure that:
the radar installation is intact;
surrounding structures have not been compromised;
no hidden electrical or structural damage exists;
and the aircraft is safe for another flight.
That is why the IndiGo aircraft was grounded rather than immediately continuing its operating schedule.
What Did IndiGo Say?
IndiGo said the Patna-Lucknow flight on October 7 encountered unfavourable weather, including a hailstorm, during landing and that this resulted in radome damage.
The carrier said:
the aircraft landed safely;
all passengers disembarked at Lucknow;
relevant authorities were informed immediately;
maintenance would be carried out; and
the aircraft would return to operation only after obtaining the necessary clearances.
The statement is important because it differs slightly from early reports that presented lightning as the confirmed cause.
Why the Difference Between Early Reports and the Airline Statement Matters
Breaking-news reports often rely on initial information from airport or operational sources.
Those accounts can change as technical inspections produce better evidence.
In this case, three levels of information need to be distinguished:
Confirmed:
The aircraft encountered adverse weather and its radome was damaged.
Widely reported but still being examined:
A lightning strike occurred at roughly 17,000 feet.
Specifically confirmed by IndiGo:
The weather encounter included a hailstorm.
A final technical finding could eventually determine whether lightning, hail, another impact, or more than one factor produced the visible damage.
What Should Passengers Know About Lightning and Aircraft?
A lightning encounter can sound alarming, but it does not automatically mean an aircraft is in immediate danger.
Commercial aircraft are designed and certified with protections intended to manage expected environmental hazards, including lightning.
The important issue after an encounter is whether any structure or system has sustained damage requiring inspection or repair.
Passengers should follow crew instructions rather than drawing conclusions from sounds, flashes or turbulence during a thunderstorm.
In the Patna-Lucknow case, the most important confirmed fact is that all 110 people aboard reached Lucknow safely.
What Happens Next?
The damaged aircraft will remain subject to engineering inspection and maintenance before returning to commercial operation.
Authorities are expected to establish the cause and extent of the damage.
The key points to watch are:
DGCA's findings on the suspected lightning encounter;
whether hail is determined to have caused or contributed to the radome damage;
confirmation of the correct flight number in official records;
the technical condition of the aircraft after inspection;
any additional safety recommendations;
and when the aircraft is cleared to return to service.
Until those findings are available, claims about the precise cause should remain qualified.
Latest Verified Position — October 8, 2026
As of the morning of October 8:
An IndiGo aircraft flying from Patna to Lucknow encountered severe weather on October 7.
There were 104 passengers and six crew members aboard.
All 110 people were reported safe.
The aircraft's nose radome was damaged.
Airport-source reports describe a suspected lightning strike at about 17,000 feet.
IndiGo says the aircraft encountered unfavourable weather including a hailstorm during landing.
The precise cause of the damage has not yet been conclusively established.
The aircraft landed safely at Lucknow.
A preliminary airport account says it was a normal landing, not an emergency landing.
The aircraft has been grounded for inspection and maintenance.
DGCA is examining the incident, and the aircraft requires relevant clearance before returning to service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was the IndiGo Patna-Lucknow flight hit by lightning?
A suspected lightning strike has been reported by airport sources and is being examined. IndiGo itself said the aircraft encountered adverse weather including a hailstorm, so lightning should not yet be described as the conclusively established cause of the damage.
How many people were on the IndiGo flight?
There were 104 passengers and six crew members, or 110 people in total. All were reported safe.
What part of the aircraft was damaged?
The aircraft's nose radome, which covers and protects the weather-radar installation, was damaged.
Did the IndiGo flight make an emergency landing?
Some initial reports used that description, but a preliminary airport account later said the aircraft landed normally and the incident did not involve an emergency landing.
Where did the aircraft land?
It landed safely at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow.
Was anyone injured?
No injuries among the 104 passengers or six crew members were reported.
Has DGCA started an inquiry?
Reports say the Directorate General of Civil Aviation is examining the incident, and the aircraft will need the required clearance before resuming operations.
Is the aircraft still flying?
It was taken out of service for inspection and maintenance following the incident.
What was the IndiGo flight number?
Most airport-source reports and flight-history information identify it as 6E925, while IndiGo's statement as reproduced by several outlets refers to 6E625. The discrepancy has not yet been publicly clarified.
Can commercial aircraft survive lightning strikes?
Yes. Commercial aircraft incorporate lightning protection, although strikes can still cause localised physical damage that requires inspection and repair. The FAA notes that areas including non-conductive radomes can be affected.
Bottom Line
An IndiGo Patna-Lucknow flight landed safely on October 7 after severe weather damaged its nose radome. All 110 people aboard were unhurt. DGCA is examining a suspected lightning strike, while IndiGo cites a hailstorm. The aircraft is grounded for inspection.
The Rajatheertha Team publishes news, explainers, guides and updates across India and the world. Our coverage follows Rajatheertha's editorial, verification and corrections standards.
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