A SWISS Airbus A330 operating flight LX147 from Delhi to Zurich aborted takeoff on Sunday morning after an engine failure and fire, leading to an emergency evacuation on the runway. Four passengers and a cabin crew member sustained injuries during the evacuation via emergency slides.
Incident Details
The aircraft, carrying 232 passengers (including four infants) and 13 crew members, began its takeoff roll around 1:08 AM local time. When the aircraft reached a speed of 104 knots (approximately 193 km/h), engine number one failed, and a fire broke out. The pilots immediately aborted the takeoff and brought the aircraft to a halt on runway 28/10.
Evacuation and Injuries
After stopping, the crew decided to evacuate passengers on the runway using emergency slides. Four passengers were admitted to Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon for emergency assessment and trauma care. Two of them later left against medical advice, one was discharged after initial treatment, and one remains under evaluation. The cabin crew member suffered a sprained ankle. Other crew members were unharmed.
Response and Investigation
Delhi airport declared a full emergency. In a statement on X, the airport said, "All prescribed safety protocols were promptly executed and passengers were safely evacuated. Airport operations remained unaffected." The runway was closed for about three hours until the aircraft was removed.
SWISS established a task force to support affected passengers. The airline stated, "Four passengers are in hospital. Our staff are with them and closely supporting them for as long as the situation requires." SWISS also expressed determination to fully understand the incident, particularly the engine problem, and noted that the event can be stressful and traumatic. The airline accommodated passengers in hotels and rebooked them on alternative flights.
India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Board will investigate the incident due to its scale and potential danger. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is also probing the case and has informed its EU counterparts.
In a statement, SWISS emphasized, "The safety of our guests and our crew is always our top priority." Sources at Medanta Hospital indicated that final diagnostic findings, including MRI and radiology reports, were pending, so complete injury details have not yet been officially recorded.
