A parked IndiGo plane carrying more than 140 passengers was struck by lightning at Kolkata airport on Friday morning, according to an Airports Authority of India (AAI) official, news agency PTI reported.
The accident occurred amid prevailing weather conditions of thunderstorms and rain, with the Airport Operations Control Center (AOCC) issuing weather alerts.
The plane, which was scheduled to operate flight 6E 6068 from Kolkata to Agartala, was parked at aerobridge 56L when it was struck by lightning. He was later suspended after the incident.
No passengers were injured. However, two IndiGo ground staff were reportedly “affected” by the lightning strike and received medical treatment. Both are now in stable condition, according to PTI.
The passengers were later transferred to Agartala on another plane, sources said. They added that boarding the plane had been completed when the lightning strike occurred, as a result of which the plane’s power system was cut off.
IndiGo declined to comment on the incident.
The city of Kolkata has been witnessing thunderstorms and heavy rain since Friday morning, leading to waterlogging in many areas and disrupting traffic.
