NEW DELHI: Six passengers onboard SWISS Delhi-Zurich flight LX 147 on Sunday morning have been hospitalised after everyone on the aircraft had to be evacuated on the runway at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) using emergency slides.
Incident Details
The Airbus A330 was on its takeoff roll at approximately 1:08 am when engine number one failed and subsequently caught fire. The crew immediately abandoned the takeoff and decided to evacuate the aircraft, which carried 232 passengers, including four infants, and crew members, on runway 28. Six passengers sustained injuries and were taken to Medanta hospital for treatment.
According to flight tracking site Flightradar24, the aircraft had reached a speed of 104 knots when the engine failure occurred and the crew aborted takeoff. Runway 28 has been closed until the aircraft is removed.
SWISS Statement
SWISS released a statement acknowledging the incident: “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.”
The statement further added: “Six passengers are currently receiving medical attention, crew is unharmed. All passengers and crew were evacuated from 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.”
Passenger Assistance
SWISS confirmed that passengers are being assisted: “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.”
Investigation
The airline emphasised its commitment to safety: “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.”
The incident has disrupted flight operations at IGIA, and authorities are working to clear the runway and resume normal services.
