Source TOI
NEW DELHI – Operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport faced a brief disruption today after a SpiceJet aircraft collided with a stationary Akasa Air plane during taxiing. While the incident caused visible damage to both aircraft, airport officials confirmed that all passengers and crew members are safe and no injuries were reported.
The mishap occurred on a taxiway near Terminal 3. According to preliminary reports, the SpiceJet flight was maneuvering toward the runway for departure when its wingtip made contact with the tail section of the Akasa Air aircraft, which was parked at a designated bay awaiting its next scheduled flight.
Immediate Response and Safety
Following the impact, ground control immediately halted the SpiceJet aircraft. Emergency services and technical teams from both airlines reached the site within minutes to assess the situation.
Evacuation: Passengers on the SpiceJet flight were deplaned safely and transported back to the terminal via shuttle buses.
Damage Assessment: The SpiceJet aircraft sustained damage to its winglet, while the Akasa Air plane suffered impact damage to its horizontal stabilizer.
Alternative Arrangements: Both airlines issued statements apologizing for the inconvenience and confirmed that passengers were being accommodated on alternative flights.
Investigative Procedures
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been notified and has launched an official inquiry into the incident. Investigators are currently reviewing:
Ground Control Logs: To determine if there were any errors in taxiing instructions.
Pilot Visibility: To check if weather conditions or cockpit “blind spots” contributed to the miscalculation.
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): To ensure all safety protocols were followed during the pushback and taxiing phase.
“The safety of our passengers remains our top priority. We are cooperating fully with the regulatory authorities to understand the root cause of this incident,” a SpiceJet spokesperson stated.
Impact on Airport Operations
While the specific taxiway was temporarily blocked for debris clearance and technical inspection, overall flight operations at IGI Airport remained largely unaffected. This incident marks another entry in a series of “ground nicks” that have prompted the DGCA to tighten monitoring of ground handling and taxiing procedures at India’s busiest airports.
Both aircraft have been grounded pending a full technical evaluation and mandatory repairs.
