New Delhi: A violent gust of wind accompanied by rain battered Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) on Sunday, damaging three Air India aircraft when ground support equipment snapped loose and crashed into the parked planes at Terminal 2.
According to reports, the aircraft were docked at the terminal when a fierce gust of wind surge swept over the airport apron, throwing ground equipment into the planes. Though officials haven’t disclosed
how badly the aircraft were damaged, all three have been removed from service and sent for detailed engineering checks.
No Warning Issued
Reports said Air Traffic Control (ATC) failed to issue an advance alert to either the airlines or the airport operator about the sudden change in weather conditions. The storm blew equipment owned by Air India Engineering and IndiGo into the stationary aircraft, causing crashes. Reports confirm no passengers were on the planes when the incident occurred, and ground staff escaped injury. Airport officials immediately rushed to the site to evaluate the damage and lock down the area to avoid further accidents.
While Air India bore the brunt of the damage, reports indicate that planes from other airlines may also have been affected by the severe weather. However, there has been no official confirmation regarding damage to aircraft operated by other carriers.
For now, the battered Air India jets stay grounded while technical crews evaluate the harm. The inspection results will dictate when the aircraft can safely fly again.