Kolkata-Jaipur IndiGo flight fails landing, circles for over 30 minutes

In a concerning incident that marks the fourth of its kind in the past month, an IndiGo Airlines flight from Kolkata to Jaipur was forced to perform a ‘go-around’—aborting its landing attempt at the last moment—on Monday night. The dramatic failure of the initial landing, followed by a tense 35-minute period of circling in the night sky, caused considerable distress among the approximately 60 passengers on board. The repeated nature of these incidents at Jaipur Airport is now raising serious questions about operational safety and procedures at the major regional hub.

The flight, IndiGo 6E-114, had departed from Kolkata at 7:25 PM, slightly behind its scheduled arrival time. By 9:15 PM, about 15 minutes late, the aircraft had reached the Jaipur runway and began its descent. However, as the pilot attempted to put the plane down, the aircraft reportedly touched the runway briefly before immediately powering up and taking off again. This manoeuvre, known in aviation as a go-around, is a standard safety protocol, but when executed unexpectedly, it can be highly alarming for passengers.

Following the aborted landing, the plane did not immediately try a second approach. Instead, it was kept circling in the air around the airport for a prolonged period of approximately 35 minutes. For the passengers inside the cabin, this unexpected delay and the feeling of uncertainty exacerbated the initial shock of the sudden take-off. Reports suggest that many of the 60 travelers felt uneasy and anxious as the aircraft remained airborne, awaiting clearance or optimal conditions for a successful second attempt.

Finally, after the tense aerial hold, the pilot managed to bring the aircraft down safely, landing at 9:55 PM. While the successful final touchdown brought immense relief, the experience left many passengers shaken and highlighted a persistent issue at Jaipur International Airport. The incident significantly delayed the journey and put a temporary spotlight on the common aviation manoeuvre often necessitated by safety concerns such as unstable approach, runway obstructions, or wind shear.

Crucially, this event is not isolated. It follows three similar, near-identical incidents in the last month alone. Earlier cases involved two other IndiGo flights, 6E-715 and 6E-394, as well as an Air India Express flight, IX-2870. In all three prior situations, the aircraft also made contact with the runway before executing a sudden go-around and having to remain in the air for an extended time before successfully landing.

The cluster of four landing failures within a single month—all involving the pilot aborting the landing after touching the runway—demands immediate attention from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the respective airlines. While a go-around is a safety feature, its repeated necessity at the same airport suggests a potential underlying issue, which could range from local meteorological challenges and Air Traffic Control (ATC) sequencing problems to pilot training nuances or runway conditions. A comprehensive safety review is urgently warranted to ensure passenger confidence and operational integrity at Jaipur Airport.