What happened
On 09 March 2013, an Airbus A-320, registration VT-IEW, operating a scheduled flight from Chandigarh to Mumbai, veered off the runway during landing. The aircraft, operated by Inter Globe Aviation Ltd. (IndiGo), touched down slightly to the left of the runway centerline amidst strong crosswinds. Following touchdown, the aircraft drifted further left, with the left main wheels rolling over runway edge lights. The wheels eventually departed the paved surface and entered the soft ground, breaking five runway edge lights in the process.
Despite the excursion, the crew managed to steer the aircraft back onto the runway and vacated via taxiway N9. There were no injuries to the 143 passengers or the 8 crew members on board. However, the incident caused damage to the aircraft, specifically a deflated and cut number 1 main wheel, and destroyed several pieces of airport infrastructure.
The investigation
The AAIB India investigation examined the flight data, cockpit voice recorder, and the pilot's handling of the aircraft. Investigators reviewed the aircraft's maintenance history, which showed no pending defects or snags at the time of departure. The investigation also looked into the meteorological conditions, noting the presence of significant crosswinds during the landing phase.
Investigators analyzed the cockpit crew's actions, specifically focusing on the transition from autopilot to manual control and the subsequent use of rudder and braking inputs. The inquiry also scrutinized the airline's organizational safety structures, including the effectiveness of their Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) and the relationship between the Flight Safety and Operations departments.