What happened
On 25 April 2026, at approximately 19:57 UTC, a scheduled flight operated by Swiss International Air Lines, involving an Airbus A330-343 with registration HB-JHK, was performing a takeoff roll at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) in New Delhi. During the takeoff sequence on runway 28, the aircraft experienced a failure of the port-side engine.
Following the engine malfunction, the flight crew aborted the takeoff. Airport authorities subsequently observed fire and smoke emanating from the left side of the aircraft. Due to the nature of the incident, the crew requested the assistance of the airport fire brigade. An emergency evacuation of the 232 passengers and crew was initiated. While the crew remained uninjured, 4 passengers sustained injuries during the evacuation process.
The investigation
The investigation into the incident is being conducted by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in India. The inquiry focuses on the mechanical failure of the port engine and the subsequent fire. Initial assessments indicate that the damage sustained by the aircraft was confined to the port engine, with no damage reported to the airframe or ground structures.