NEW DELHI: Six passengers aboard SWISS flight LX 147 from Delhi to Zurich were hospitalized after an emergency evacuation on the runway at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) on Sunday morning. The Airbus A330 was in the takeoff roll at approximately 1:08 AM when an engine failure occurred, leading to a fire. The crew decided to abort the takeoff and evacuate all 232 individuals on board, which included 228 passengers and four infants.
Following the incident, emergency slides were deployed for the evacuation on runway 28. Six passengers sustained injuries and were taken to Medanta Hospital for treatment. Flight tracking website Flightradar24 indicated that the aircraft was traveling at 104 knots when the engine failure happened.
Runway 28 has since been closed until the aircraft can be removed. In a statement, SWISS acknowledged the incident, confirming that the aircraft involved was an Airbus A330 (HB-JHK). The company established a task force to manage the situation.
“Shortly after takeoff, just after 1 AM local time in India, an issue occurred with one of the engines,” the airline stated. “The crew rejected the takeoff and, following an assessment, decided as a precaution to evacuate the aircraft.”
While crew members were unharmed, six passengers required medical evaluation. For those unable to use the slides during evacuation, stair access was provided.
SWISS also reported that local teams are working to assist passengers, including arranging rebookings and hotel accommodations. Passengers have been given contact cards for reliable communication. “Such a situation is stressful for everyone involved,” the statement added, emphasizing that local teams are in direct contact with passengers.
The airline is committed to understanding the cause of this incident, with technical specialists set to travel to Delhi to inspect the aircraft and initiate further actions. SWISS reaffirmed its commitment to passenger safety, stating, “The safety of our passengers and our crew is always our top priority.”
