Incident Overview

An Air India flight, AI-315, traveling from Hong Kong to Delhi, experienced a fire in its auxiliary power unit (APU) shortly after landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport. The incident occurred as passengers were disembarking the aircraft. Fortunately, the APU automatically shut down upon detecting the fire, allowing all passengers and crew to exit safely without injury.

Aircraft Damage and Investigation

The aircraft involved, an Airbus A321, sustained some damage due to the fire. As a precautionary measure, the plane has been grounded pending a thorough investigation. The Director-General of Civil Aviation has been informed of the incident and will oversee the investigation to determine the cause and prevent future occurrences.

Air India’s Recent Safety Concerns

This incident adds to a series of safety concerns for Air India. In recent months, the airline has received nine notices for five safety violations. On Monday, a separate Air India flight from Kochi to Mumbai veered off the runway during landing, causing damage to both the aircraft and the tarmac. Additionally, another flight from Delhi to Kolkata aborted take-off due to a technical issue.

Ongoing Investigations into Previous Incidents

The most significant concern remains the crash of Air India flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to London on June 12. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off, resulting in 274 fatalities. Preliminary investigations suggest that fuel supply switches moved unexpectedly, but a final report is still pending. The incident has drawn international attention and criticism over media reporting on pilot actions.

Safety Measures and Industry Response

In response to these incidents, domestic airlines operating Boeing jets have been instructed to inspect fuel supply switches. Air India has completed these checks on its Boeing 787s and reported no issues. The aviation community continues to monitor developments closely as investigations proceed.