Air India Plane Tail Catches Fire After Landing In Delhi

Photo: Reuters

An Air India plane's tail caught fire shortly after it landed at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on Tuesday. The flight had come from Hong Kong, and thankfully, all passengers and crew members were safe.

What Happened During The Flight

The flight number was AI 315. It started its journey in Hong Kong and landed safely in Delhi on July 22, 2025. The aircraft was an Airbus plane that is only two years old. Earlier, this plane was operated by Vistara Airlines before it became a part of Air India's fleet.

Stay informed with the latest news. Follow DXB News Network on WhatsApp Channel 

When Did The Fire Start

After the plane landed and reached its parking spot at the gate, the fire started in the auxiliary power unit, also called the APU. The APU is a small engine located at the tail of the plane. It provides power to the aircraft when the main engines are off. This APU fire happened just as the passengers were beginning to get off the plane.

What Did Air India Say

Air India gave a statement about this incident. A spokesperson said, “Flight AI 315, operating from Hong Kong to Delhi on 22 July 2025, experienced an auxiliary power unit (APU) fire shortly after it had landed and parked at the gate. The incident occurred while passengers had begun disembarking, and the APU was automatically shut down as per system design.”

This means the fire did not spread further because the plane’s system is made to shut down the APU automatically if such a problem happens. Due to this design, the damage was limited and there was no panic among passengers.

Were Passengers Safe

Yes, all passengers and crew members got off the plane safely. There was no injury to anyone on board. Air India said in its statement, “There was some damage to the aircraft; however, passengers and crew members disembarked normally and are safe. The aircraft has been grounded for further investigations and the regulator has been duly notified.”

This means the airline has stopped using this plane for now. It will be checked fully to find out the reason for the fire before it can fly again. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been informed about the incident.

What Did The Airport Authorities Say

Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) also gave a statement. They said that an investigation has already started to know what caused the APU fire in the Air India plane. They will check if it was due to any technical fault or other reasons.

Other Recent Incidents In Air India Flights

This is not the first incident for Air India in recent days. On Monday, July 21, 2025, two other incidents involving Air India planes were reported.

First Incident: Kolkata Flight Aborts Takeoff

A flight from Delhi to Kolkata had to abort its takeoff because of a technical problem. The pilot noticed the snag and decided to stop the takeoff to keep passengers safe. The airline checked the aircraft after this issue before allowing it to fly again.

Second Incident: Mumbai Flight Veered Off Runway

In another incident, an Air India flight AI2744, coming from Kochi to Mumbai, veered off the runway while landing. The plane landed during heavy rain at Mumbai Airport. Because of this, it slipped slightly off its path. However, the aircraft taxied safely to the gate later. All passengers and crew members were safe and got off without any injury. The airline grounded the plane for checks, and one runway at Mumbai Airport was temporarily closed for safety reasons.

Another Recent Incident: IndiGo Flight Emergency Landing

Apart from Air India, an IndiGo flight also faced a technical problem on Monday. Flight 6E 813 was flying from Goa to Indore with 140 passengers on board. Just before landing at Indore Airport, the pilot reported a technical problem related to the landing gear. However, the plane landed safely, and passengers got off without any injury. The aircraft is being checked to fix the problem before it resumes flying.

Why Are Such Incidents Important To Report

Incidents like these are reported because they help in checking the safety of planes. Even if no one is hurt, it is important to find out the cause so that similar incidents do not happen again. For airlines, passenger safety is the first priority. That is why every time a technical snag happens, airlines inform the aviation authorities and ground the plane until it is checked completely.

What Is The Auxiliary Power Unit (APU)

For students who may not know, the APU is a small engine at the back of the aircraft. Its job is to provide power to the plane when the main engines are off. For example, when the aircraft is parked at the gate and the engines are shut down, the APU supplies power for lights, air conditioning, and other systems inside the plane. It is an important part of the aircraft’s functioning when on the ground.

What Happens Next

Now, Air India will conduct a detailed investigation into this fire. The aircraft will remain grounded until the maintenance team and DGCA confirm that it is safe to fly again. Delhi Airport authorities will also study if there were any faults in ground equipment that could have caused this fire.

Why Are There More Technical Problems These Days

In recent months, Indian airlines have reported many technical snags. This is because aircraft require regular maintenance, and as airlines add new planes and routes, maintenance checks become even more important. Also, sudden weather changes and long hours of flying can put pressure on aircraft systems.

Luckily, in this Air India fire incident, no one was injured. The airline acted quickly to shut down the APU system and keep passengers safe. As investigations continue, passengers can feel assured that safety measures in aviation are strong, and such incidents are studied deeply to avoid future risks.