Swiss A330 suffers engine failure and fire during Delhi takeoff, injuring six passengers

All 232 people onboard Swiss International Air Lines Flight LX147 were evacuated onto the tarmac at Indira Gandhi International Airport early Sunday morning, April 26, 2026, after the Zurich-bound Airbus A330 rejected takeoff at 104 knots following a critical engine failure and fire. Six passengers sustained injuries during the emergency slide evacuation and were hospitalized; the crew escaped unharmed. Runway 28 — Delhi’s primary departure runway — remains closed pending aircraft removal, causing cascading delays across India’s busiest airport.

The aircraft reached high speed before the abort, generating intense heat that ignited a fire near the landing gear. Swiss has dispatched technical specialists to Delhi and established a task force to assist passengers with rebookings and hotel accommodations.

Engine failure forces high-speed abort on active runway

Flight LX147 was accelerating down Runway 28 for departure to Zurich when the crew detected a failure in the No. 1 engine at approximately 1:08am IST. The Airbus A330-300, registered HB-JHK, had reached 104 knots — roughly 192 kilometers per hour — before pilots initiated an emergency rejected takeoff.

Eyewitnesses reported smoke billowing from the left side of the aircraft. Ground reports indicated a fire had broken out near the right landing gear, likely caused by the extreme heat generated during emergency braking at high speed.

The flight crew declared a full emergency at 1:35am IST. With the aircraft stationary on the runway and fire risks mounting, an immediate evacuation was ordered. All emergency slides were deployed, and passengers descended onto the tarmac while airport fire crews responded to the scene.

Six passengers were transported to Medanta Hospital for treatment of injuries sustained during the slide evacuation. The remaining passengers and all 13 crew members emerged unharmed. Airport officials confirmed on-site medical teams provided immediate treatment to those affected.

Operational impact and investigation timeline

Runway 28 remained blocked as of Sunday morning while technical teams inspected the aircraft and cleared debris. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched a formal investigation into the engine failure and subsequent landing gear fire. The aircraft will remain grounded in Delhi pending a full technical evaluation.

Historically, Swiss A330s operating the Delhi-Zurich route have experienced rejected takeoffs due to technical issues. In a previous incident, an aircraft safely aborted takeoff following an uncontained engine failure, leading to an investigation and temporary service disruption. Runway clearance in that case took approximately eight hours, with service resuming within 72 hours.

Swiss International Air Lines established a task force immediately following the incident. Technical specialists are en route to Delhi to conduct on-site inspections. The airline is assisting all affected passengers with rebookings and hotel accommodations.

The competitive picture on the Delhi-Zurich route includes Swiss operating seven weekly flights with A330-300 equipment, Air India operating 14 weekly flights with Boeing 787-8 aircraft on nonstop service, and United Airlines offering seven weekly flights via Newark with Boeing 777 equipment and US connections.

Watch for the DGCA and Swiss accident investigation board preliminary report, expected within 72 hours. If an uncontained engine failure is confirmed, it could trigger fleet-wide A330 inspections and potential frequency reductions on the Delhi-Zurich route.

What to do if you’re affected

The runway closure and aircraft grounding create immediate rebooking pressure for passengers holding Delhi-Zurich tickets in the next 48 hours.

• Monitor Delhi Airport’s live flight status at delhiairport.in/live-flight-status for Runway 28 clearance updates and departure delays across all carriers.
• Contact Swiss India directly at +91-124-465-8700 if you hold a booking on LX147 or any Delhi-Zurich flight in the next 72 hours to confirm re-accommodation and hotel vouchers.
• Check passenger rights — India departures fall under DGCA regulations mandating meals and hotels for delays exceeding four hours, plus compensation ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹40,000 for economy passengers. EU arrivals at Zurich qualify for EU261/2004 protections, with up to €600 compensation for full cancellations over 3,500 kilometers. Contact the airline within 72 hours to file claims.
• Consider alternate routings — Air India operates twice-daily nonstop service on the route with higher frequency and availability during disruptions.

Watch: The DGCA preliminary report will reveal whether this incident triggers broader A330 fleet inspections or temporary frequency reductions on Swiss’s India routes.