A minor collision between two commercial aircraft at Indira Gandhi International Airport on Tuesday afternoon has triggered a safety review, even as all passengers and crew escaped unharmed. The incident involved planes from Akasa Air and SpiceJet during routine ground movement near Terminal 1.
What happened on the taxiway
According to The Hindustan Times, the incident took place around mid-afternoon when an Akasa Air aircraft, preparing to depart for Hyderabad, was stationary after pushback. At the same time, a SpiceJet flight arriving from Leh was taxiing toward its designated stand. During this movement, the SpiceJet aircraft made contact with the rear section of the Akasa plane.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation confirmed that the impact damaged the horizontal tail surface of the Akasa aircraft and the winglet of the SpiceJet plane. As a precautionary measure, the air traffic control officer on duty and the SpiceJet pilots involved have been de-rostered pending investigation.
Swift response prevents escalation
Akasa Air stated that its aircraft was stationary at the time of the incident and that standard safety procedures were immediately followed. Passengers and crew were safely disembarked, and alternative arrangements were initiated to ensure minimal disruption to travel plans. The airline emphasised that safety remains its top priority and confirmed that relevant authorities had been informed. Ground teams were deployed promptly to assess the damage and manage passenger movement, preventing any escalation of the situation.
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Pattern of ground incidents raises concerns
This marks the second such ground collision in recent months, following a similar incident involving Air India and IndiGo at Mumbai airport earlier this year. While such incidents rarely result in injuries, they highlight the importance of precise coordination between pilots and ground control during taxi operations.
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Aviation experts note that busy airports with high traffic volumes require strict adherence to protocols to avoid such occurrences. The latest incident is expected to prompt a closer review of ground handling procedures and communication systems to ensure enhanced operational safety. Authorities have initiated a detailed probe, and further action will depend on the findings of the investigation.
