Guwahati-Bound IndiGo Flight Returns Safely to Pune After Landing Gear Fails to Retract
IndiGo flight 6E 623 returned safely to Pune on Sunday morning after its landing gear failed to retract shortly after take-off, with all 192 passengers and crew members safely deboarded.
PUNE- An IndiGo Airbus A320 operating as flight 6E 623 (registration VT-IZE) from Pune to Guwahati returned to its origin and landed safely on Sunday morning after the landing gear failed to retract shortly after takeoff. All 192 persons on board, including passengers and crew, disembarked safely with no injuries reported.
The aircraft took off from Pune International Airport (an Indian Air Force-managed facility) around 7:17 am. Pilots soon discovered they could not retract the landing gear, which remained extended. Continuing the roughly three-hour flight was not feasible due to the high drag and significantly increased fuel burn (estimated at about 150% higher). The crew informed Air Traffic Control (ATC) and decided to return to Pune.
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Fully fueled for the scheduled journey, the pilots held the aircraft in a pattern near Pune for approximately one hour to burn fuel and bring the weight within maximum landing limits. As a standard precaution to rule out any false cockpit indication, the aircraft then performed a low pass over the runway so ground personnel and ATC could visually confirm the gear was properly extended and locked. The aircraft touched down safely at 9:04 am.
Following the pilot’s report, the Indian Air Force declared a full emergency. Fire services, ambulances, and other emergency teams were placed on high alert. After landing, the aircraft was escorted to Bay No. 7 by three fire-fighting vehicles and two ambulances. Once the aircraft’s safe and normal condition was confirmed, ATC withdrew the full emergency at 9:10 am. An aerobridge was connected, and all 192 people on board were safely deboarded.
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Pune airport authorities stated that the pilot had informed ATC the undercarriage failed to retract and remained extended. Coordination occurred promptly among the airport, ATC, IndiGo, and other agencies in line with established procedures. Airport Director Santosh Dhoke noted that the emergency response was carried out in coordination with the Indian Air Force, ATC, IndiGo, and other agencies, following prescribed safety protocols.
Official Statement from IndiGo
An IndiGo spokesperson said, “IndiGo flight 6E 623, operating from Pune to Guwahati on 15 November 2026, returned to origin and landed safely at the Pune International Airport after a technical snag was detected shortly after take-off. In line with standard operating procedures, all relevant authorities were immediately informed. The aircraft is undergoing maintenance checks and will resume operations after securing necessary clearances.”
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The spokesperson added: “An alternate aircraft has been arranged promptly to operate the flight. We regret the inconvenience caused to our customers and are taking all possible measures to minimise it, including offering them regular updates, meals and refreshments, alternate flight options and refunds, as applicable. We thank our customers for their patience and understanding. At IndiGo, the safety and comfort of our customers and crew remain our top priority.”
The airline have arranged the replacement aircraft from Bengaluru to continue the journey for the affected passengers to Guwahati. The original aircraft (VT-IZE) remains under maintenance checks pending necessary clearances before returning to service.
The incident was managed according to standard aviation protocols for gear-related technical issues, with the low-pass visual check and fuel-burn holding pattern ensuring a controlled and safe return. No further irregularities were reported after landing.
