NEW DELHI: Panic gripped passengers of a Zurich-bound SWISS airlines flight at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on Sunday afternoon after the crew detected smoke in the cabin, forcing an emergency evacuation that left at least six people injured.
The incident took place right before liftoff. According to airport sources, the pilot immediately aborted the takeoff sequence upon receiving a smoke warning and ordered a full-scale evacuation. Emergency inflatable slides were instantly deployed on the tarmac.
During the rapid and chaotic evacuation process, six passengers sustained minor injuries, primarily sprains and abrasions. They were immediately attended to by the airport’s emergency medical response team.
“The safety of our passengers and crew is our utmost priority. The takeoff was aborted following a smoke indication, and standard emergency evacuation protocols were initiated immediately,” an airline official stated. The exact source of the smoke is yet to be ascertained, and a technical team is currently inspecting the aircraft.
The incident triggered a brief operational halt at the active runway. Aviation authorities temporarily suspended aircraft movements to safely clear the passengers and tow the affected plane to an isolation bay. This led to a cascading effect, causing delays for several connecting domestic and international flights, while a few incoming flights were placed in a holding pattern in the Delhi airspace.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been informed, and a standard inquiry has been ordered to investigate the technical glitch that led to the smoke buildup. Normal flight operations at the runway resumed after an hour-long disruption.
