An Etihad Airways flight scheduled to depart from Chennai to Abu Dhabi was grounded on Wednesday after a fire broke out on one of its wings. The incident occurred while the aircraft was preparing for takeoff at Chennai International Airport.
Incident Details
The fire was noticed by ground staff on the wing of the Airbus A320 aircraft. Emergency protocols were immediately activated, and fire tenders rushed to the spot. The flames were extinguished within minutes, preventing any major damage.
All passengers and crew were safely evacuated from the aircraft. No injuries were reported. The airline confirmed that the flight was canceled, and passengers were accommodated in hotels and rebooked on subsequent flights.
Response and Investigation
Airport authorities and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire. Preliminary reports suggest a possible technical malfunction.
Etihad Airways issued a statement apologizing for the inconvenience and assuring that safety remains their top priority. The aircraft has been grounded for further inspection.
This incident caused temporary disruption at the airport, but operations have since returned to normal.
