Two IndiGo engineers struck by lightning at airport | Nagpur News

Both engineers are reported to be stable and are now under observation

Nagpur: Two IndiGo airline engineers were injured as lightning struck while they were carrying out routine checks on a flight that had landed at Nagpur airport on Saturday.
The Ahmedabad-Nagpur flight landed at Nagpur airport at around 5:35pm. Amid heavy rain and thunder, the technical team was carrying out routine checks on the aircraft, when the two engineers — Amit Ambatkar and Rishi Singh — were struck by lightning. The plane has been grounded, said sources. It is learnt that the aircraft was scheduled to take off for Lucknow from here.
Ambatkar fell unconscious and the duo was rushed to Kingsway Hospital, which is attached to the airport for emergency services. Ambatkar soon regained consciousness. Though there were initial apprehensions that the injury may be critical, both are reported to be stable. They are now under observation.
The team was carrying out the routine checks that are to be done at the time of a flight’s landing. The aircraft cannot take off for the next destination before the checks are completed.
Airport sources said it is being assumed that lightning struck from the aircraft’s tail end. While the structure was safe for the passengers inside, the maintenance staff who were in proximity were hit, said a source. No final report on the incident has been filed yet.
Normally there are weather warnings for flights, but such a danger was not apprehended in this case. Sources said there were thunders when the plane landed.
A statement issued by IndiGo confirmed the incident. “There was a lightning strike observed on an Indigo ATR aircraft parked at Nagpur airport. Two of our technical staff were affected and were immediately given medical attention,” it read.
Kingsway Hospital’s Dr K Ithesham, who was on duty for emergency services, said Ambatkar was revived in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. Both engineers were in a stable condition after being taken to the hospital.