New Delhi, 16 April: A ground collision between two commercial aircraft at Indira Gandhi International Airport on April 16 has raised safety concerns, after a SpiceJet aircraft struck a stationary Akasa Air plane during taxiing operations.
According to officials, the incident occurred on the airport taxiway when the wing of the moving SpiceJet aircraft came into contact with the tail section of the parked Akasa Air aircraft. The impact resulted in visible damage to both aircraft, prompting authorities to immediately ground them for technical inspection.
A spokesperson for SpiceJet confirmed that a Boeing 737-700 aircraft was involved in the ground incident. During taxiing, the aircraft’s right winglet struck the left-hand horizontal stabiliser of another airline’s plane. Following the collision, the aircraft has been grounded in Delhi for detailed inspection and assessment.
Meanwhile, Akasa Air stated that its aircraft, operating flight QP 1406 from Delhi to Hyderabad, was stationary at the time of the incident. The airline confirmed that the aircraft was hit by another plane while positioned on the taxiway and was subsequently returned to the bay.
“All passengers and crew were safely disembarked, and our ground teams are making alternative arrangements to fly passengers to Hyderabad at the earliest,” an Akasa Air spokesperson said.
No injuries have been reported, and all passengers and crew members from both aircraft are safe. However, the incident has caused operational disruptions, with affected flights delayed or rescheduled.
Aviation authorities have initiated an investigation to determine the exact cause of the collision. Preliminary focus is expected to be on taxiing procedures, ground movement coordination, and communication between cockpit crews and air traffic control.
Ground incidents, while less frequent than in-flight issues, remain a critical area of safety management in aviation. Even minor miscalculations during taxiing especially in congested airport environments can lead to significant operational and financial consequences.
For airlines, such incidents can result in costly repairs, schedule disruptions, and reputational impact. For passengers, it often leads to delays, rebooking challenges, and inconvenience.
From an industry perspective, the incident highlights the importance of strict adherence to ground safety protocols, enhanced situational awareness, and advanced monitoring systems at busy airports like Delhi.
As investigations continue, further details are awaited regarding the extent of the damage and any potential regulatory or operational implications arising from the incident.
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