Terrifying ordeal on Swiss flight from Delhi as undercarriage catches fire

Passengers on a Swiss International Air Lines service from Delhi to Zurich faced a sudden and terrifying drama early in the early hours of April 26 when an Airbus A330 suffered engine failure and a fire broke out in its undercarriage during its takeoff roll. Crew members detected the problem with engine number one while travelling at around 104 knots on runway 28 at Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Immediate action followed as the pilots rejected the takeoff and brought the aircraft to a halt. Fire crews responded immediately to visible flames and smoke on the left side near the landing gear. Luckily, the plane had not advanced enough along the runway and was thus able to abort takeoff. Flames were seen by passengers coming from the underside of the plane as it drew to a halt at the end of the runway. All systems were switched off plunging the passengers into darkness.

Everyone on board left the plane via emergency slides in a rapid but orderly process. Around 228 passengers, plus four infants and 13 crew members, totalled nearly 245 people. Six passengers received minor injuries during the evacuation and were taken to hospital for checks. Remaining passengers and staff escaped unharmed. Airport officials declared a full emergency, closed the runway, and later confirmed operations continued with little overall disruption. Swiss arranged a replacement flight for those affected while setting up a task force to examine the technical matter.

Crew training & safety protocols perform effectively

Quick decisions by the flight crew prevented any worse outcome in this high-speed situation. Aviation experts note that rejected takeoffs at such speeds test both pilots and aircraft systems rigorously. Delhi airport teams activated emergency protocols without delay. Investigators from Indian authorities and Swiss now review data from the incident involving aircraft registration HB-JHK.

Recent comparable events

European airlines have encountered engine-related issues during takeoff in other recent cases. In September 2025 a Swiss Airbus A330 rejected takeoff from Boston after right-engine failure, with smoke reported as the plane stopped safely on the runway. No injuries occurred in that event.

Lufthansa faced a high-speed rejected takeoff with an Airbus A350 at Denver in March 2026 due to a predictive wind shear alert. Intense braking led to several tyre blowouts, yet all passengers and crew stayed safe. Another Lufthansa flight earlier experienced engine trouble shortly after departure from New York, requiring an in-flight shutdown.