A fire broke out in the auxiliary power unit (APU) of Air India flight AI-315, an Airbus A321, shortly after landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi from Hong Kong on Tuesday, the airline reported.
The fire was detected during passenger disembarkation, and the APU was automatically shut down, allowing all passengers and crew to exit safely, reports NDTV.
The aircraft sustained minor damage and has been grounded for investigation. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been notified.
This incident adds to recent safety concerns for Air India, which has received nine notices for five safety violations in the past six months, according to junior Aviation Minister Murlidhar Mohol.
On Monday, a Kochi-Mumbai flight veered off the runway during landing, damaging the aircraft and tarmac.
Later that day, a Delhi-Kolkata flight aborted take-off at 155 km/h due to a technical issue.
Last month, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner on the same Delhi-Kolkata route returned to Hong Kong after a similar issue.
The most severe incident was the June 12 crash of Air India flight AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which killed 274 people, including 19 on the ground, after crashing into a college hostel 32 seconds after take-off from Ahmedabad.
A preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) revealed that both fuel supply switches moved from "RUN" to "CUTOFF" seconds after take-off, though the final report is still pending.
Unverified reports, including a claim by The Wall Street Journal suggesting Captain Sumeet Sabharwal deliberately shut off the fuel supply, have been criticised by the AAIB and the US National Transportation Safety Board as "irresponsible."
The Boeing 787-8’s fuel supply switches are spring-loaded to prevent accidental movement, requiring deliberate action to shift positions.
Following the AAIB’s initial findings, Indian airlines operating Boeing aircraft were mandated to inspect fuel supply switches. Air India completed these checks and reported no issues.