New Delhi: A major mishap averted at the Indira Gandhi International airport on Thursday after a SpiceJet aircraft struck an Akasa Air plane, damaging both jets.
The incident took place at around 2.15 pm when the stationary Akasa Air aircraft, preparing to fly to Hyderabad, was hit by a SpiceJet plane during taxiing. The right wing of the SpiceJet aircraft struck the left rear wing of the Akasa aircraft, leading to the grounding of both planes.
All passengers were safely disembarked.
Both airlines said the relevant authorities have been informed, and an investigation has been launched into the incident which could have been far serious and risked lives of hundreds of passengers.
Akasa Air and SpiceJet issued statement on the incident.
“Aircraft operating flight QP 1406 from Delhi to Hyderabad had to return to the bay on April 16, 2026. Preliminary information indicates that Akasa’s aircraft was stationary when another airline’s aircraft made contact with it. All passengers and crew were safely disembarked, and our ground teams are making alternative arrangements to fly our passengers to Hyderabad at the earliest,” an Akasa Air spokesperson said.
SpiceJet provided details of the incident. “On April 16, a SpiceJet B737-700 aircraft was involved in a ground occurrence while taxiing at Delhi airport, resulting in damage to its right winglet and the left-hand horizontal stabiliser of another aircraft belonging to a different airline. The SpiceJet aircraft has been grounded at Delhi.”
Aviation expert Parvez Damania said it was an extremely dangerous incident.
“I am completely shocked that this could happen. Safety protocols are clearly defined, and pilots are highly trained. This is extremely serious and dangerous… It is especially surprising that such an incident occurred at a major airport like Delhi,” Damania told Times Now.
