Air India Flight from Hong Kong Catches Fire After Landing in Delhi, All Passengers Safe

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An Air India flight from Hong Kong to Delhi caught fire shortly after landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport on Monday. All 170 passengers and crew members onboard were reported safe, with no injuries sustained.

The incident involved Flight AI-315, an Airbus A321 aircraft, which landed safely and taxied to its designated bay. The fire reportedly broke out in the auxiliary power unit (APU) located in the tail section of the aircraft. The blaze began moments after the plane parked at the terminal and passengers had started deboarding.

Air India confirmed that the fire was swiftly controlled by the aircraft’s onboard fire suppression system and ground emergency responders. “There was a fire in the APU after the aircraft parked at the bay. All passengers were safe, and disembarkation was carried out smoothly,” the airline said in a statement.

Airport officials also verified that fire tenders were dispatched immediately as a precaution. Maintenance crews were alerted, and a technical examination of the aircraft is underway to determine the cause of the malfunction. Preliminary assessments suggest the fire could have been caused by a mechanical fault in the APU.

This incident follows closely on the heels of another Air India flight mishap in Mumbai, where an aircraft skidded off the runway due to heavy rains. Though there were no injuries in either case, the back-to-back events have drawn increased scrutiny of the airline’s operational safety standards.

Authorities have launched an internal inquiry, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been informed. The aircraft has been grounded pending further inspection and repairs.

Air India has assured passengers and the public that safety remains its top priority and that corrective steps will be taken based on the outcome of the ongoing investigation.