Fire Erupts on Air India Plane Amid Rising Safety Concerns
NEW DELHI – A fire broke out in the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) of an Air India aircraft as it arrived at the gate on Tuesday, marking the latest in a troubling series of safety incidents involving the airline.
According to an official statement from Air India, the fire was quickly extinguished and all 170 passengers, including crew members, were safely evacuated. The aircraft sustained minor damage and is currently under investigation.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been informed and has launched a formal inquiry into the incident.
This marks the third safety-related mishap involving Air India within just 48 hours. On July 21, a Kochi–Mumbai flight skidded off the runway at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport due to heavy rainfall, resulting in three burst tires and potential engine damage. A day earlier, another Air India flight from Delhi aborted takeoff due to a technical issue.
These incidents follow the devastating crash of Air India Flight AI 171 in Ahmedabad last month, which claimed 260 lives and triggered nationwide scrutiny of the airline’s safety protocols.
Authorities are still investigating whether an electrical failure in the tail section of AI 171 caused the fatal crash.
In response to growing concerns, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has announced it will conduct a safety audit of Air India Express, the airline’s low-cost subsidiary.
Air India has stated that passenger safety remains a top priority. The airline has proactively inspected its entire fleet of Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft, reporting no faults in the fuel control switches.
The fire incident aboard Flight AI 315 underscores the urgent need for enhanced safety measures and stricter oversight across India’s aviation industry.
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