An IndiGo flight from Patna to Lucknow experienced damage to its nose, suspected to be caused by a lightning strike at approximately 17,000 feet. The flight, 6E 625, landed safely and ahead of schedule at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow, with all 104 passengers and six crew members reported to be safe. The airline indicated that hail during landing also contributed to the damage to the aircraft's radome, the protective covering for the weather radar. The aircraft has been taken out of service for a detailed technical inspection and will only resume operations after necessary clearances. While pilots reported the suspected lightning strike to Air Traffic Control as a precaution, the landing was normal and not classified as an emergency. Modern commercial aircraft are designed to safely withstand lightning strikes, with passengers typically only noticing a flash or loud noise.

An IndiGo flight from Patna to Lucknow experienced damage to its nose, suspected to be caused by a lightning strike at approximately 17,000 feet. The flight, 6E 625, landed safely and ahead of schedule at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow, with all 104 passengers and six crew members reported to be safe. The airline indicated that hail during landing also contributed to the damage to the aircraft's radome, the protective covering for the weather radar. The aircraft has been taken out of service for a detailed technical inspection and will only resume operations after necessary clearances. While pilots reported the suspected lightning strike to Air Traffic Control as a precaution, the landing was normal and not classified as an emergency. Modern commercial aircraft are designed to safely withstand lightning strikes, with passengers typically only noticing a flash or loud noise.

An IndiGo flight from Patna to Lucknow experienced damage to its nose, suspected to be caused by a lightning strike at approximately 17,000 feet. The flight, 6E 625, landed safely and ahead of schedule at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow, with all 104 passengers and six crew members reported to be safe. The airline indicated that hail during landing also contributed to the damage to the aircraft's radome, the protective covering for the weather radar. The aircraft has been taken out of service for a detailed technical inspection and will only resume operations after necessary clearances. While pilots reported the suspected lightning strike to Air Traffic Control as a precaution, the landing was normal and not classified as an emergency. Modern commercial aircraft are designed to safely withstand lightning strikes, with passengers typically only noticing a flash or loud noise.

An IndiGo flight operating from Patna to Lucknow sustained damage to its nose after it was suspected to have encountered a lightning strike mid-air at an altitude of nearly 17,000 feet on Wednesday.

According to reports, IndiGo flight 6E 625 landed at Lucknow’s Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport eight minutes ahead of schedule following the incident. There were 104 passengers and six crew members on board, all of whom were reported to be safe.

The aircraft was subsequently taken out of service for a detailed technical inspection.

"IndiGo flight 6E 625 operating from Patna to Lucknow on 07 October 2026 encountered unfavourable weather, including a hailstorm while landing, resulting in damage to the radome,” the airline said in a statement.

It said the aircraft will undergo the necessary maintenance and will resume operations only after receiving the required clearances.

An IndiGo spokesperson, cited in media reports, clarified that the aircraft did not make an emergency landing and completed its landing normally at Lucknow airport.

The visible damage was confined to the aircraft’s nose radome, the protective structure covering the weather radar installed at the front of the aircraft.

A source quoted by The Times of India said the pilots had reported the suspected lightning strike to Air Traffic Control (ATC) as a precaution because they were not immediately certain about the extent of any damage.

What happens when lightning strikes an aircraft

Lightning strikes involving aircraft are not unusual and are generally not dangerous to passengers. Modern commercial aircraft are specifically designed and certified to withstand lightning strikes.

When lightning strikes an aircraft, it typically enters at one point—often the nose, wingtip or tail—and the electrical current travels along the aircraft’s conductive outer skin before exiting through another point.In most cases, passengers may notice only a bright flash or a loud bang.

In June, an IndiGo flight preparing to depart for Agartala was reportedly struck by lightning while at Kolkata airport. Three ground staff members reportedly suffered temporary hearing loss following the incident, while passengers and crew on board remained safe.