Air India Airbus Fire at Delhi Airport: Passengers Safe After Hong Kong Flight Incident
On July 22, 2025, a startling incident occurred at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport when Air India Flight AI 315, which was traveling from Hong Kong, caught fire in its auxiliary power unit (APU) not long after landing. According to India Today and The Hindu, the fire broke out while passengers were disembarking from the Airbus A321-251NX, registered as VT-TVG, which was parked at the gate. Although the incident has sparked new worries about Air India’s safety record, prompt action by the aircraft’s safety systems and crew ensured that all passengers and crew members deplaned safely. What led to this concerning event, and what does it portend for the airline’s future?
According to CNBC TV18, the fire started at around 12:12 p.m. IST, just after the plane touched down before its planned arrival time of 12:20 p.m. The fire was contained when the APU, a tiny turbine engine in the aircraft’s tail that drives onboard systems while on the ground, automatically shut down as intended. According to Hindustan Times, disembarkation went smoothly despite some damage to the aircraft and no reported injuries. According to organiser.org, the two-year-old Airbus, which was previously operated by Vistara, has been grounded pending a comprehensive investigation into the suspected maintenance issue after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was notified.
After a fatal Boeing 787-8 crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, which claimed 260 lives, Air India has now experienced three safety scares in as many days. According to The Independent, on July 21, an Air India flight from Kochi veered off a wet Mumbai runway, and another to Kolkata was forced to cancel takeoff because of a technical problem. According to The Wire, concerns regarding Air India’s maintenance procedures and operational dependability are growing after junior Aviation Minister Murlidhar Mohol revealed that the airline had received nine safety notices in six months.
For Air India, which is going through a significant expansion under Tata Group ownership, including a $200 million loan to purchase Boeing 777s, the timing couldn’t be worse. Even though it was contained, this incident might damage passenger confidence and make it more difficult for the airline to compete internationally. Is this a singular incident, or will the DGCA’s investigation reveal systemic problems? The country awaits answers as Air India navigates this difficult time to guarantee safer skies.
