CHENNAI: An Etihad Airways flight carrying nearly 280 passengers from Chennai to Abu Dhabi was cancelled on Tuesday after a fire broke out on the aircraft’s left wing during take-off preparations at India’s Chennai airport, officials said.
According to airport authorities, pilots detected the fire moments before take-off and immediately aborted the departure procedure.
All passengers were safely evacuated from the aircraft, while airport fire crews quickly brought the blaze under control. No injuries to passengers or crew members were reported.
Officials said the exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and the aircraft is expected to undergo a detailed technical inspection.
The incident briefly disrupted operations at the airport as emergency teams responded to the situation.
Concerns over flight safety in India largely stem from infrastructure bottlenecks, congested airspace, and staffing shortages, particularly at major hubs, where limited runway capacity and heavy traffic increase operational risks.
Regional airports also face safety challenges due to inadequate firefighting services, security gaps, and weak infrastructure, while shortages of air traffic controllers continue to strain aviation management.
India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, has repeatedly flagged concerns over technical faults, reduced safety margins, and operational lapses, even as the country implements its National Aviation Safety Plan 2024-2028 to strengthen oversight, risk management, and regulatory enforcement.
