New Delhi, July 23: An Air India aircraft arriving from Hong Kong caught fire shortly after landing at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Tuesday, the airline said, adding that all passengers and crew disembarked safely.
The incident occurred after flight AI 315, operated by a two-year-old Airbus previously flown by Vistara, had parked at the gate. The fire originated in the aircraft’s auxiliary power unit (APU), according to an Air India spokesperson.
“The APU fire broke out shortly after landing, while passengers had begun disembarking. The unit shut down automatically as per system design,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “There was some damage to the aircraft; however, all on board are safe.”
The aircraft has been grounded for investigation, and the relevant regulatory authorities have been informed, the airline added.
The incident follows two other Air India aircraft-related disruptions on Monday. A Kolkata-bound flight aborted takeoff in Delhi due to a technical issue, while a Kochi–Mumbai flight veered off the runway while landing in heavy rain at Mumbai Airport. All passengers and crew were safe in both cases, and the affected aircraft have been grounded for inspection.
The Mumbai incident briefly suspended operations on one of the airport’s runways, an airline spokesperson said.
Separately, an IndiGo flight from Goa to Indore, carrying 140 passengers, made an emergency landing at Indore Airport due to a suspected issue with its landing gear. IndiGo said the aircraft landed safely and will undergo necessary technical checks. India’s aviation regulator has not issued an official statement on the recent spate of incidents.
