Major Incident Averted at Delhi's IGI Airport Involving Swiss Air Flight

A serious incident was narrowly avoided at Indira Gandhi International Airport when Swiss Air flight LX147 faced a technical failure during takeoff. The pilot's quick decision to abort the takeoff ensured the safety of all 232 passengers on board. However, six passengers were injured during the emergency evacuation. The runway has been temporarily closed, and Swiss Air is making arrangements for the affected passengers. Read on for more details about this alarming event.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 27, 2026, 12:42 IST

Incident Overview

New Delhi: A significant incident was narrowly avoided late Saturday night at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI Airport, Delhi). Swiss Air flight LX147, which was scheduled to depart for Zurich, encountered a technical malfunction during takeoff.

Fire During Takeoff
According to reports, as the aircraft was in the process of taking off and reached a speed of approximately 104 knots, engine number one suddenly failed. This led to a fire breaking out in the engine, causing panic among passengers.

Quick Thinking by the Pilot Prevents Disaster
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the pilot promptly canceled the takeoff and safely halted the aircraft on the runway. There were a total of 232 passengers on board, all of whom were evacuated using emergency slides.

Injuries Reported
During the evacuation via the emergency slides, six passengers sustained injuries. All injured individuals have been admitted to Medanta Hospital for treatment.

Runway Closure and Alternative Arrangements
Following the incident, runway number 28 has been temporarily closed. Swiss Air has deployed a task force to arrange accommodations and alternative flights for the affected passengers.