Three Air India aircraft were damaged at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport after a storm blew ground support equipment into the planes [1].
The incident highlights the vulnerability of aircraft and airfield infrastructure to extreme weather events, potentially disrupting flight schedules and requiring extensive safety reviews.
The damage occurred at Terminal 2, where strong winds and rain displaced heavy ground support equipment [2]. This equipment collided with narrow-body aircraft that were parked on the tarmac during the storm [3].
Air India has withdrawn three aircraft from service [4]. The airline said that the planes must undergo detailed engineering inspections to ensure they are airworthy before returning to flight operations [4].
Airport authorities and airline technicians are currently assessing the extent of the structural damage to the aircraft skins and components. The collision involved equipment designed to support aircraft on the ground, which became projectiles due to the wind velocity [2].
While no injuries were reported, the loss of three aircraft from the active fleet creates immediate operational pressure for the carrier. The airline must now balance the need for rapid inspections with the rigorous safety standards required for commercial aviation [4].
“Three Air India aircraft were damaged at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport”
This incident underscores the operational risks posed by increasing weather volatility at major aviation hubs. The necessity of withdrawing multiple aircraft for engineering inspections suggests that even indirect damage from ground equipment can lead to significant fleet downtime and potential revenue loss for the airline.
