SWISS Flight LX147 Evacuated at Delhi Airport After Engine Fire During Takeoff

Four passengers and one crew member were injured at a runway at Indira Gandhi International Airport early Sunday. The incident occurred when one of the aircraft’s engines failed and caught fire during the takeoff roll, prompting the crew to stop the aircraft and initiate an emergency evacuation.

The airline had earlier said that six passengers had been injured but revised the number, Reuters reported on Sunday.

The Airbus A330, operating as flight LX147, had 232 passengers, including four infants, along with crew members on board. The aircraft was accelerating on runway 28 at around 1.08 am when the failure occurred. According to flight tracking data, the aircraft had reached a speed of 104 knots before the crew rejected the takeoff.

Passengers and crew were evacuated using emergency slides. Five individuals sustained injuries during the evacuation and were taken to Medanta hospital for treatment. The runway remains closed until the aircraft is removed.

“We are aware of an incident involving flight LX147 in Delhi. The aircraft involved is an Airbus A330 (HB-JHK). SWISS has established a task force. There were 228 passengers and 4 infants on board. Shortly after takeoff, just after 1 am local time in India, an issue occurred with one of the engines. The crew rejected the takeoff and, following an assessment of the situation, decided as a precaution to evacuate the aircraft,” SWISS said in a statement.

The airline confirmed that the crew members were unharmed. “Six passengers (are) currently receiving medical attention, crew (is) unharmed. All passengers and crew (were) evacuated the aircraft via the emergency slides. Six passengers are currently undergoing medical evaluation. For a small number of individuals who were unable to use the slides, stairs were provided.”

SWISS said arrangements are being made for affected passengers. “Passengers are currently being assisted. Local teams are working intensively to arrange rebookings or hotel accommodation for our passengers. They have received contact cards to ensure we can reach them reliably. Such a situation is stressful for everyone involved. Our local teams are taking care of our passengers on site and are in direct contact with them. We are working closely with the local authorities.”

The airline added that an investigation will follow. “We are determined to fully understand what led to this incident. SWISS technical specialists will travel to Delhi to inspect the aircraft and initiate the next steps. At the same time, we are working intensively to find swift and suitable onward travel solutions for all passengers. The safety of our passengers and our crew is always our top priority.”