NEW DELHI, INDIA — Chaos erupted at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on Sunday morning, April 26, 2026 when a Zurich-bound Swiss Air flight was forced to abort its takeoff following a major engine fire. While the flight crew’s rapid response prevented a larger catastrophe, six passengers sustained injuries during the high-speed braking and subsequent emergency evacuation.

The incident occurred at approximately 10:45 a.m. as Flight LX147 was accelerating down Runway 28.

Witnesses and passengers reported a loud "bang" from the left side of the aircraft, followed immediately by plumes of thick black smoke and visible flames trailing from the #1 engine. The pilots initiated a "rejected takeoff" (RTO) at high speed, bringing the heavy long-haul jet to a grueling halt just hundreds of meters from the end of the runway.

"The deceleration was violent," said one passenger seated near the wing. "Then we saw the fire crews racing toward us before the plane had even fully stopped. It was terrifying."

The cockpit crew ordered an immediate evacuation via the emergency slides. In the scramble to exit the cabin, six passengers suffered various injuries, ranging from smoke inhalation to sprains and abrasions sustained during the slide descent.

Airport rescue and fire services (ARFF) reached the aircraft within 90 seconds, dousing the engine with foam and preventing the blaze from spreading to the fuel tanks.

On April 26, 2026, Swiss Air Flight LX147, a Boeing 777-300ER bound for Zurich, was forced to ground at Delhi's IGI Airport after an emergency on Runway 28. The incident resulted in six injuries, with victims transported to Safdarjung Hospital for observation, while the runway was temporarily closed for cleanup and investigation.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched a high-level probe into the cause of the engine failure. Preliminary theories suggest a possible bird strike or an internal mechanical "uncontained" failure, though investigators are currently recovering the flight data recorders for a definitive analysis.

The aborted takeoff caused significant ripple effects across IGI Airport, with over a dozen flights delayed or diverted as Runway 28 remained closed for several hours to clear debris and tow the crippled aircraft.

Traveler Advisory: Passengers scheduled for international departures from Delhi this evening are advised to check their flight status, as the morning's runway closure has created a backlog of departures.

The incident underscores the critical importance of the rigorous annual safety certifications for jet engines, which are designed to ensure that even a catastrophic fire can be contained without spreading to the rest of the aircraft.