Background
On 9 March 2013, an Airbus A320 aircraft, registration VT-IEW, operated by Inter Globe Aviation Ltd. (IndiGo), was involved in a serious incident classified as a runway excursion during landing at Mumbai Airport. The flight originated from Chandigarh and was a scheduled passenger service. The crew consisted of two pilots, and the aircraft carried 143 passengers and 8 crew members. No injuries were reported, and there was no fire.
History of the Flight
The approach and landing were conducted on runway 27. The autopilot was engaged until 400 feet above ground level. The aircraft touched down slightly left of the runway centerline and subsequently veered further left. The left main wheels rolled over two runway edge lights and continued near the runway shoulder. The aircraft then departed the paved surface, entering soft ground and breaking five additional edge lights. The crew steered the aircraft back onto the runway and exited via taxiway N9. The pilots reported strong crosswinds during the approach and landing.
After parking at the assigned bay, maintenance personnel discovered deep cuts and glass embedded in the No. 1 main wheel, which was deflated. The tire was replaced in accordance with the Aircraft Maintenance Manual. An inspection for damage after leaving the runway was conducted and found satisfactory. The Cockpit Voice Recorder and Digital Flight Data Recorder were removed for analysis.
Findings and Probable Cause
The investigation determined that the captain became disoriented regarding the aircraft's position relative to the runway centerline, leading to a loss of situational awareness. Additionally, improper use of rudder inputs by the captain to achieve the desired aircraft trajectory contributed to the incident. The probable cause, as stated by the investigation committee, is: "The Captain got disoriented about the aircraft position with respect to runway centre line, which resulted in loss of situational awareness. Improper use of the rudder inputs by the Captain to achieve the desired aircraft trajectory contributed to the incident."