Fire scare on Zurich-bound flight at Delhi, emergency declared
A Zurich-bound flight operated by Swiss International Air Lines was forced to abort takeoff at Indira Gandhi International Airport early Sunday after a technical fault in one of its engines triggered a brief fire scare.
According to officials, the aircraft had begun accelerating on the runway when the crew detected an issue in the engine. Acting swiftly, the pilots halted the takeoff, preventing what could have escalated into a more serious situation.
Passengers onboard described tense moments as smoke was seen coming from the aircraft, leading to panic inside the cabin before emergency procedures were initiated.
Emergency Declared, Passengers Evacuated Safely
A full emergency was declared at the airport shortly after the incident. Authorities said all safety protocols were followed and passengers were evacuated promptly.
“In the early hours of Sunday, a full emergency was declared at Delhi airport after a technical issue was reported on a Zurich-bound Swiss International Air Lines flight LX147 on runway 28/10. All safety protocols were immediately followed and passengers were safely evacuated. Flight operations remained unaffected,” the airport said in an official advisory.
Six Injured During Evacuation
While no major injuries were reported, six passengers sustained minor injuries during the evacuation process. Officials confirmed that the injuries occurred amid the hurried exit and not due to the engine issue itself.
There were 228 passengers and four infants onboard at the time. Evacuation was carried out using emergency slides, with some passengers assisted via stairs.
Probe Underway, Alternate Arrangements Being Made
Technical teams are now set to inspect the aircraft to determine the exact cause of the malfunction. Meanwhile, the airline is arranging alternative flights and accommodation for affected passengers.
Despite the emergency, airport authorities confirmed that regular flight operations continued without disruption.
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