Full emergency declared at Delhi Airport as Air India flight returned to airport after reporting fire midair
On Friday, an Air India flight carrying 175 passengers experienced a mid-air scare due to a suspected fire in the air conditioning unit. The incident resulted in a full-scale emergency at IGI Airport. However, Flight 807 from Delhi to Bangalore landed safely at 6:38 p.m.
An Air India flight carrying 175 passengers experienced a mid-air scare on Friday due to a suspected fire in the air conditioning unit. The incident triggered a full-scale emergency at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. Eventually flight 807 from Delhi to Bangalore landed back safely at IGI Airport at 6:38 p.m.
Alternative arrangements have been made for passengers to fly to Bengaluru. According to flightradar24, the flight was operated by an A321 aircraft.
Delhi Fire Services officials said that three fire tenders have been pressed into service. “We received a call from IGI Airport at 6.15 p.m. about a fire. “We pressed three fire tenders,” a DFS official stated.
According to an Air India spokesperson, “Air India flight AI807 from Delhi to Bengaluru Air returned to Delhi this evening after receiving a fire warning from its auxiliary power unit.” After the pilots followed the necessary protocols, the aircraft landed smoothly, and all passengers and crew safely deplaned at the aerobridge.
The airline added that alternative arrangements had been made to ensure that the passengers arrived at their destination as soon as possible.
“Air India prioritizes the safety and well-being of its passengers. Our colleagues on the ground have made alternative arrangements to get guests back to their destinations as soon as possible,” the Air India spokesperson added.
Separately, an Air India flight bound for Delhi had to abort its takeoff and was later cancelled after colliding with a luggage tractor-trolley while taxiing for departure at the Pune airport on Thursday. According to the report, there were approximately 200 passengers on the flight, and as a result of the incident, they were stranded at the airport for about six hours.
Air India stated that passengers were refunded their full fares and offered complimentary rescheduling. Those with subsequent international connections were accommodated on flights operated by other carriers.
The airline also announced that an investigation into the incident has begun.