Emergency Evacuation of Swiss International Air Lines Flight LX147 at Indira Gandhi International Airport
Introduction
On Sunday, a Swiss International Air Lines flight bound for Zurich aborted its takeoff at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport due to a technical malfunction, resulting in the evacuation of all occupants.
Main Body
The incident occurred shortly after 01:00 local time on Runway 28. Flight LX147, an Airbus A330-300 operated by Captain Guillermo Maximiliano Mulet, was carrying a total of 232 individuals, including 228 passengers and four infants. During the takeoff sequence, at a speed of approximately 106 knots, the flight crew identified a malfunction involving one of the engines and subsequently rejected the takeoff. Reports regarding the exact nature of the failure vary; while the airline cited an engine issue, other sources noted the presence of smoke emanating from the port side landing gear and fire near the right landing gear. Following the rejection of takeoff, a full emergency was declared at 01:35, necessitating the deployment of Crash Fire Tenders and Follow-Me vehicles. The crew initiated a precautionary evacuation of the aircraft via emergency slides, with stairs provided for those unable to utilize the slides. This process resulted in minor injuries to several individuals; the airline confirmed that six passengers required medical evaluation, whereas other reports indicated four injuries. In the aftermath of the evacuation, Swiss International Air Lines established a task force and coordinated with local authorities to provide hotel accommodations and alternative travel arrangements for the affected passengers. The airline has announced that technical specialists will be dispatched to Delhi to conduct a formal inspection of the aircraft to determine the cause of the malfunction. Delhi Airport authorities stated that safety protocols were executed effectively and that general airport operations remained unaffected by the event. This occurrence follows a series of recent aviation incidents at the same facility. On April 16, a ground collision occurred between an Akasa Air and a SpiceJet aircraft near Terminal 1, causing structural damage to both planes. Additionally, on March 28, an IndiGo flight arriving from Visakhapatnam performed an emergency landing following a suspected engine failure. These events collectively indicate a period of varied operational disruptions at the airport.
Conclusion
The situation is currently stable, with passengers receiving assistance and the aircraft awaiting a technical inspection by Swiss specialists to identify the cause of the engine failure.