Swiss flight from Delhi to Zurich aborts takeoff after engine problem

NEW DELHI — A Swiss International Air Lines flight bound for Zurich aborted its takeoff at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport after an engine problem. According to Telegrafi, five people were injured during the slide evacuation.

Flight LX147, operated by an Airbus A330, had begun accelerating on the runway when the left engine caught fire. The crew immediately decided to abort the takeoff and start an emergency evacuation.

On board were 228 passengers and 13 crew. Four passengers and one crew member sustained injuries during the slide evacuation, mostly minor injuries and bruises requiring on-site medical treatment.

Rapid airport response

Delhi airport declared an emergency after the incident and activated its firefighting and medical-assistance protocols. According to Indian authorities, runway operations resumed a few hours later after safety inspections.

Swiss International Air Lines, part of the Lufthansa Group, issued a statement confirming the incident and thanking the crew for its quick response. The company said it is cooperating with Indian and Swiss authorities in the investigation.

The decision to evacuate was taken as a precaution after the engine issue during takeoff, the company said, as cited by Telegrafi, adding that passenger safety was the crew’s highest priority throughout the incident.

Passengers were accommodated in hotels in Delhi while Swiss arranged an alternative flight. Some travelers described moments of panic during the evacuation but praised the professionalism of the crew.

India’s civil-aviation authority and the Swiss regulator have launched a joint investigation into the technical cause of the engine damage. Airbus and the engine manufacturer are expected to join the review of flight-data and cockpit voice recordings.

Aborted-takeoff incidents are rare but part of standard safety protocols in commercial aviation.

Source: Telegrafi