Key Points
- No advance weather warning issued before the storm struck Delhi Airport
- Incident raises questions over India’s airport weather alert mechanisms
- Latest incident revives concerns over Air India safety lapses
- Officials reviewing circumstances behind the absence of prior storm alerts
NEW DELHI: Three Air India narrow-body aircraft were damaged at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport after strong winds during a sudden storm hurled ground support equipment into parked planes, with the incident raising questions over the apparent absence of advance weather warnings.
The incident occurred at Terminal 2 (T2) on Sunday evening when an unexpected spell of severe weather swept across the airport at approximately 4:40pm.
Airport officials said a step ladder and a trestle, belonging to IndiGo Engineering and Aircraft India Engineering, were dislodged by the force of the winds and struck three Air India aircraft parked on the apron.
According to The Hindu, no advance weather warning had been issued prior to the storm, leaving ground crews and airport operators with little time to secure equipment positioned near aircraft stands.
“There was no weather warning issued for the storm. At around 4:40pm on Sunday, strong winds caused a step ladder and a trestle at the T2 parking stands to move from their positions and hit three Air India aircraft,” airport sources were quoted as saying.
The damaged aircraft have since been withdrawn from service and are undergoing detailed technical inspections and repairs. Aviation officials indicated that one of the aircraft sustained more significant damage and is expected to remain grounded for several days.
While the other two are likely to return to commercial operations later this week following safety checks and necessary maintenance work.
According to The Times of India, the trestle involved in the incident had been properly secured before the weather deteriorated. However, the intensity of the sudden gusts reportedly caused the equipment to break free and move across the parking area.
The incident has triggered fresh scrutiny of weather monitoring and emergency preparedness procedures at one of India’s busiest airports.
Aviation experts note that timely meteorological alerts are essential for airlines, airport operators and ground-handling agencies, allowing them to secure mobile equipment and minimise risks to aircraft during adverse weather conditions.
Reports in both The Indian Express and The Times of India highlighted that advance warnings often enable airport authorities to implement precautionary measures, including the removal or additional securing of equipment positioned near aircraft.
The latest occurrence has also revived concerns about a series of operational incidents involving Air India aircraft in recent months.
Earlier this year, a newly inducted Airbus A350 — regarded as the airline’s flagship long-haul aircraft — ingested an unsecured baggage container while taxiing at IGI Airport after arriving from New York in dense fog conditions.
Authorities are now examining the circumstances surrounding Sunday’s weather event, including the apparent absence of prior storm alerts and whether additional safeguards are required to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The investigation is expected to assess both weather forecasting procedures and the handling of ground equipment during rapidly changing weather conditions at the airport.
