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Fire Erupts on Air India Flight From Hong Kong to Delhi Amid APU Malfunction Just Weeks After Deadly Crash - Travel And Tour World
www.travelandtourworld.com
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Fire erupted on an Air India flight from Hong Kong to Delhi due to an auxiliary power unit (APU) malfunction shortly after arrival, just weeks after the airline’s fatal crash in Ahmedabad reignited national scrutiny over its safety record. Although all passengers disembarked safely during the incident at Indira Gandhi International Airport, the timing of the fire—paired with multiple recent safety violations and an ongoing investigation into the June 12 disaster that killed 260 people—has intensified pressure on the airline and regulators to address mounting concerns about operational reliability.
The incident occurred on July 22, 2025, involving Air India Flight AI 315, which had just completed its international journey from Hong Kong to Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. According to official statements, the APU—responsible for powering onboard systems while the aircraft is stationary—caught fire after landing. Thankfully, the aircraft was already at the gate and passengers were in the process of disembarking. The APU shut down automatically as designed, and no injuries were reported.
Air India promptly grounded the aircraft and notified regulatory authorities. In a statement, the airline confirmed that it is conducting a full investigation into the fire and is cooperating with the aviation safety regulator. “The aircraft has been grounded for further investigation and the regulator has been duly notified,” the airline stated. Although there were no casualties or evacuations, the incident raises further questions about the airline’s safety protocols and aircraft maintenance procedures.
This fire scare follows closely on the heels of a tragic accident last month, when Air India Flight AI 171 crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. That catastrophic event killed 241 of the 242 passengers onboard, along with 19 individuals on the ground, making it one of the deadliest aviation accidents in India’s recent history.
The preliminary report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) revealed a shocking technical failure in that earlier crash. The fuel supply to both engines on the Boeing 787-8 aircraft reportedly shut off within one second of each other, triggering confusion in the cockpit just moments after takeoff. That sudden and simultaneous fuel cutoff left the pilots with little time to react, leading to the aircraft’s devastating descent.
In response to the June crash, Air India carried out precautionary inspections of the Fuel Control Switch (FCS) locking mechanism on its Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 fleet. The airline stated that it found no issues during these checks. While Boeing 787 aircraft are operated under Air India’s primary fleet, the 737s are flown by its low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express.
However, the latest fire incident adds to a growing list of safety issues linked to the carrier. In the last six months alone, the airline has received nine show cause notices related to five different safety violations, according to a civil aviation ministry disclosure made in the Rajya Sabha just a day before the fire occurred. Enforcement actions have already been completed for at least one of those violations, but the details of the others remain under scrutiny.
Despite the mounting issues, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, stated in a separate written reply that no adverse reliability trend had been observed for Air India’s aircraft in official maintenance and safety reports over the past six months. This claim stands in contrast to public perception, which has become increasingly wary of flying with the airline following recent events.
As of now, aviation authorities are monitoring the situation closely, and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is expected to update its findings as investigations into both the June crash and the latest APU fire proceed.
Fire broke out on an Air India travel flight from Hong Kong to Delhi due to an APU malfunction while passengers were disembarking, intensifying safety concerns just weeks after the airline’s deadly crash in Ahmedabad. The incident has sparked renewed scrutiny over Air India’s operational reliability and ongoing regulatory violations.
Air India’s safety performance is now under national and international scrutiny, with this latest fire adding urgency to calls for stricter oversight, improved maintenance protocols, and more transparent communication with the public. With passenger confidence hanging in the balance, the carrier faces an uphill battle to restore its reputation amid a turbulent summer for Indian aviation.
www.travelandtourworld.com
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
The incident occurred on July 22, 2025, involving Air India Flight AI 315, which had just completed its international journey from Hong Kong to Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. According to official statements, the APU—responsible for powering onboard systems while the aircraft is stationary—caught fire after landing. Thankfully, the aircraft was already at the gate and passengers were in the process of disembarking. The APU shut down automatically as designed, and no injuries were reported.
Air India promptly grounded the aircraft and notified regulatory authorities. In a statement, the airline confirmed that it is conducting a full investigation into the fire and is cooperating with the aviation safety regulator. “The aircraft has been grounded for further investigation and the regulator has been duly notified,” the airline stated. Although there were no casualties or evacuations, the incident raises further questions about the airline’s safety protocols and aircraft maintenance procedures.
This fire scare follows closely on the heels of a tragic accident last month, when Air India Flight AI 171 crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. That catastrophic event killed 241 of the 242 passengers onboard, along with 19 individuals on the ground, making it one of the deadliest aviation accidents in India’s recent history.
The preliminary report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) revealed a shocking technical failure in that earlier crash. The fuel supply to both engines on the Boeing 787-8 aircraft reportedly shut off within one second of each other, triggering confusion in the cockpit just moments after takeoff. That sudden and simultaneous fuel cutoff left the pilots with little time to react, leading to the aircraft’s devastating descent.
In response to the June crash, Air India carried out precautionary inspections of the Fuel Control Switch (FCS) locking mechanism on its Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 fleet. The airline stated that it found no issues during these checks. While Boeing 787 aircraft are operated under Air India’s primary fleet, the 737s are flown by its low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express.
However, the latest fire incident adds to a growing list of safety issues linked to the carrier. In the last six months alone, the airline has received nine show cause notices related to five different safety violations, according to a civil aviation ministry disclosure made in the Rajya Sabha just a day before the fire occurred. Enforcement actions have already been completed for at least one of those violations, but the details of the others remain under scrutiny.
Despite the mounting issues, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, stated in a separate written reply that no adverse reliability trend had been observed for Air India’s aircraft in official maintenance and safety reports over the past six months. This claim stands in contrast to public perception, which has become increasingly wary of flying with the airline following recent events.
As of now, aviation authorities are monitoring the situation closely, and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is expected to update its findings as investigations into both the June crash and the latest APU fire proceed.
Fire broke out on an Air India travel flight from Hong Kong to Delhi due to an APU malfunction while passengers were disembarking, intensifying safety concerns just weeks after the airline’s deadly crash in Ahmedabad. The incident has sparked renewed scrutiny over Air India’s operational reliability and ongoing regulatory violations.
Air India’s safety performance is now under national and international scrutiny, with this latest fire adding urgency to calls for stricter oversight, improved maintenance protocols, and more transparent communication with the public. With passenger confidence hanging in the balance, the carrier faces an uphill battle to restore its reputation amid a turbulent summer for Indian aviation.
