Summary
- Air India Airbus A321 made safe emergency landing due to suspected fire in AC system.
- Incident involved a 14.6-year-old Airbus A321-200 carrying 175 people.
- Another recent Air India A321 incident reported – significant damage while taxiing at Pune Airport.
An Air India Airbus A321 narrowbody was forced to make an emergency landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in Delhi due to a suspected fire onboard. The aircraft, carrying 175 people, landed safely without any further incident.
Fire suspected in AC system
On May 17, 2024, Air India’s Airbus A321-200 aircraft, registered as VT-PPT, was operating a routine flight AI 807 from Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) to Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) but was forced to return back to DEL due to a suspected fire onboard the aircraft.
According to a report by The Aviation Herald, the flight crew stopped their climb soon after take-off and reported a suspected fire in the aircraft’s air conditioning system. Later, the flight crew of the Airbus A321 entered a holding pattern until the aircraft safely landed on DEL airport’s runway 29L, approximately 70 minutes after departure.
Photo: Naresh Sharma | Shutterstock
According to Flightradar24.com, a substitute Airbus A321, bearing registration VT-PPV, arrived at BLR airport, the flight’s intended destination, after a delay of roughly five hours and thirty minutes. Simple Flying has asked Air India for a comment but has not received a response before the publication.
The aircraft involved in the incident was a 14.6-year-old Airbus A321-200 narrowbody. According to ch-aviation data, the airline’s Airbus A321 can accommodate a total of 182 passengers in a two-class cabin configuration: 170 passengers in economy class and 12 in business class. The aircraft in question returned to operation on May 19, 2024, as per Flightradar24.com.
Another A321 incident within days
Another Air India Airbus A321 aircraft was involved in a recent incident. On May 18, 2024, an Air India Airbus A321 narrowbody jet, registered as VT-PPK, sustained significant damage to its center wing section during push back at Punte Airport (PNQ) for flight AI 858 to DEL Airport.
According to the Indian media outlet NDTV, the aircraft in question collided with a towing vehicle. None of the 180 passengers onboard sustained damage. Passengers were immediately deplaned, and arrangements were made for an alternative flight. Airport operations continued without any further incidents or disruption. The airline confirmed the incident to NDTV, stating:
“The aircraft was held back for checks, all passengers were offloaded safely, and the flight was cancelled. Passengers were eventually refunded their full fares and offered complimentary rescheduling. Those with onward international connections were flown to Delhi by other carriers. An investigation into the incident has already been initiated.”
India’s civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), initiated an investigation to ascertain the cause of the collision. Initial findings indicate that the tug truck, employed for aircraft ground movement, collided with the plane during taxiing. The DGCA’s inquiry will prioritize reviewing operational procedures and identifying any potential oversights contributing to the incident.
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