NEW DELHI — A full-scale emergency was declared at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) on Saturday evening after a Zurich-bound Swiss International Air Lines flight was forced to abort its takeoff following a critical engine failure and reports of fire.
High-Speed Abort and Fire Reports
The incident involved Flight LX147, an Airbus A330-300 (registration HB-JHK), which was accelerating down Runway 28 for its departure to Zurich. According to flight data, the aircraft reached a speed of approximately 104 knots (192 km/h) before the crew initiated an emergency high-speed rejected takeoff due to a failure in the No. 1 engine.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing smoke billowing from the left side of the aircraft, while ground reports indicated a fire had broken out near the right landing gear, likely due to the intense heat generated by the emergency braking procedure.
Emergency Evacuation on the Runway
With the aircraft coming to a halt on the runway and fire risks mounting, the flight crew declared a full emergency and ordered an immediate evacuation.
- Evacuation Method: All emergency slides were deployed.
- Total Count: 232 passengers and 13 crew members (245 total).
- Outcome: All passengers and crew were successfully evacuated onto the tarmac.
While the majority of those on board emerged unscathed, airport officials confirmed minor injuries were sustained by several passengers during the descent down the slides. On-site medical teams provided immediate treatment to those affected.
Operational Impact
The incident caused significant disruption at India’s busiest airport. Runway 28 remained blocked for a prolonged period as technical teams worked to inspect the aircraft and clear the scene. Several incoming flights were diverted, and departing schedules faced cascading delays throughout the night.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched a formal investigation into the mechanical failure of the No. 1 engine and the subsequent landing gear fire. The aircraft remains grounded in Delhi pending a full technical evaluation.
