Aircraft over Hong Kong to Delhi experiences inferno mid-flight, prompting an urgent evacuation of all passengers to the designated safe zone
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is currently investigating an incident involving Air India's Airbus A321, which experienced an auxiliary power unit (APU) fire upon landing at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on July 22, 2025.
According to Air India's official statement, the APU fire occurred shortly after flight AI 315, which had flown in from Hong Kong, was parked at the gate. The fire was detected while passengers were disembarking, and the APU automatically shut down as designed upon fire detection.
Fortunately, all 170 passengers and crew on board disembarked safely without any injuries. However, the aircraft suffered some damage due to the fire and has been grounded for a thorough investigation.
This incident adds to recent operational safety concerns for Air India, which has faced multiple incidents and safety notices in the past few months.
Preliminary reports suggest that a maintenance failure may have caused the APU to fail, but officials have not drawn any conclusions yet. The exact cause of the APU fire is still unknown, and the investigation is ongoing.
The DGCA, India's aviation regulator, has been notified of the incident, and Air India has not yet released a final report on the cause or investigation recommendations. The aircraft remains grounded pending further examination.
The immediate safety response—the automatic APU shutdown and safe evacuation—worked as intended. However, further technical analysis is required to determine the root cause of the APU fire and to recommend preventive measures.
As the investigation continues, the airline and aviation authorities are assessing technical, maintenance, and operational factors involved before issuing any conclusive statements or safety recommendations.
[1] Money Control. (2025). Air India's post on X discusses how the APU automatically shut down. Retrieved from https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/aviation/air-indias-post-on-x-discusses-how-the-apu-automatically-shut-down-7667291.html
[2] The Hindu. (2025). Air India plane suffers minor damage due to APU malfunction at Delhi airport. Retrieved from https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/air-india-plane-suffers-minor-damage-due-to-apu-malfunction-at-delhi-airport/article36244747.ece
[3] Business Standard. (2025). DGCA to investigate Air India incident at Delhi airport. Retrieved from https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/dgca-to-investigate-air-india-incident-at-delhi-airport-125550000297_1.html
[4] ANI. (2025). Air India plane suffers APU malfunction at Delhi airport, no injuries reported. Retrieved from https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/air-india-plane-suffers-apu-malfunction-at-delhi-airport-no-injuries-reported20250722195409/
[5] NDTV. (2025). Air India plane suffers APU malfunction at Delhi airport, no injuries reported. Retrieved from https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/air-india-plane-suffers-apu-malfunction-at-delhi-airport-no-injuries-reported-3096312
[1] The financial implications for Air India due to this APU malfunction incident are yet to be determined, as the aircraft remains grounded pending further investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
[2] This incident in the aviation sector is causing concerns in the transportation industry and the wider finance sector, as delays and cancellations can have a significant impact on the economy, particularly in the busy travel periods.
