Delhi Airport Hit by Severe Storm, Leaving Three Air India Planes Damaged
A sudden, intense storm swept through Delhi on Sunday evening, wreaking havoc at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. Violent winds were powerful enough to drag heavy ground support equipment, such as step ladders, across the tarmac and into three parked Air India aircraft. Viral social media footage captured the chaotic scene, showing ground staff scrambling to intercept the runaway equipment as it slid toward the planes. Fortunately, the damage was reported as minor, and aviation officials confirmed that two of the affected aircraft have already been cleared to resume operations.
In response to the incident, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated a formal investigation into the safety lapse, noting that the equipment involved belonged to both Air India Engineering and IndiGo. This event follows another recent mishap at the same airport earlier this year, where an Air India Airbus A350 sustained engine damage after striking a cargo container while taxiing. These back-to-back incidents have raised concerns regarding ground safety protocols and the management of equipment during volatile weather conditions at one of India’s busiest aviation hubs.