Three Air India Aircraft Damaged At Delhi Airport After Storm Sends Equipment Crashing Into Planes
Three Air India Aircraft Damaged At Delhi Airport After Storm Sends Equipment Crashing Into Planes
Strong winds and heavy rain at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport damaged three Air India aircraft after ground support equipment broke loose and struck parked planes. While two aircraft are expected to return to service soon, one suffered major damage and may remain grounded for longer.
Three Air India aircraft parked at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) were damaged on Sunday after a sudden storm caused ground support equipment to break free and collide with the planes.
The incident occurred around 4.40 pm near Terminal 2 when strong winds and heavy rainfall swept through the airport area. According to airport operator DIAL, a step ladder and trestles used by Air India and IndiGo ground handling and engineering teams were displaced by the severe weather and hit parked aircraft.
All three affected Air India A320 aircraft were immediately withdrawn from service for inspections and repairs. Airport officials said two of the aircraft are expected to return to operations within a few days. However, one aircraft suffered substantial damage and could remain grounded for a longer period while extensive safety checks and repair work are completed.
Sources said the storm displaced several pieces of ground support equipment across the apron area, causing significant damage. One aircraft reportedly suffered a major impact near the stairwell section, requiring detailed structural inspections.
A key issue highlighted by the incident was the absence of an advance weather alert. According to DIAL, no warning regarding the sudden change in weather was issued by Air Traffic Control (ATC) to either the airport operator or airlines before the storm struck. Such alerts typically allow airlines and ground handlers to secure equipment on the tarmac ahead of adverse weather conditions.
Officials said the unexpected nature of the storm contributed to the movement of equipment that eventually collided with the aircraft.
An airline source indicated that the severe weather may not have affected only Air India. Aircraft belonging to other operators were also reportedly impacted by the hostile weather conditions at the airport.
No injuries were reported in the incident, and airport operations continued despite the damage. Engineering teams are carrying out detailed assessments to determine the extent of repairs required before the affected aircraft can safely return to service.
