Air India Airbus A321 Returns to Delhi Amid Suspected Fire Onboard

An Air India Airbus A321 made an emergency landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in Delhi due to a suspected fire onboard. The aircraft, carrying 175 passengers, landed safely without further incident.

On May 17, 2024, the Airbus A321-200, registered as VT-PPT, was en route from Delhi to Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) when the flight crew reported a suspected fire in the air conditioning system. The crew halted the climb shortly after takeoff and entered a holding pattern before safely landing on runway 29L at DEL, approximately 70 minutes after departure.

A substitute Airbus A321, registered VT-PPV, later completed the flight to BLR, arriving after a delay of about five and a half hours. Despite requests for comments, Air India has not responded before publication. The affected aircraft, a 14.6-year-old Airbus A321-200, returned to service on May 19, 2024.

This incident follows another involving an Air India Airbus A321 on May 18, 2024. The aircraft, registered as VT-PPK, sustained damage to its center wing section during pushback at Pune Airport (PNQ) for flight AI 858 to DEL. The aircraft collided with a towing vehicle, causing significant damage. All 180 passengers were safely deplaned, and the flight was canceled. Air India refunded fares and rescheduled flights for affected passengers.

India's civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has launched an investigation into the incidents. The DGCA's initial findings indicate that the tug truck collided with the aircraft during taxiing. The investigation will review operational procedures to identify potential oversights contributing to the incident.