New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated an investigation into a ground collision incident at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, involving aircraft operated by SpiceJet and Akasa Air.

The incident occurred on Thursday near bay No. 106 at Terminal 1, raising fresh concerns over ground handling safety at Indian airports.

How the Delhi Airport ground incident happened

According to initial reports, a SpiceJet Boeing 737-700 flight (SG-124, Leh–Delhi) and an Akasa Air Boeing 737 MAX 8 flight (QP-1406, Delhi–Hyderabad) came into contact during taxiing operations.

During manoeuvring:

  • The right winglet of the SpiceJet aircraft struck the
  • left horizontal stabiliser of the Akasa Air aircraft

Both aircraft sustained damage and have been grounded for detailed inspection and rectification.

ATC clearance and Wing Walker Protocol under review

Preliminary findings suggest the Akasa Air aircraft had been pushed back from bay No. 104 and positioned for engine start, while the SpiceJet aircraft was taxiing towards bay No. 106 after ATC clearance.

However, officials stated that the collision occurred when the SpiceJet aircraft executed a turn without wing walker clearance, resulting in contact between the two aircraft.

The incident is now under detailed scrutiny as part of the DGCA aviation safety investigation.

Pilots and ATC officers were removed from duty

Following the incident, the pilots operating the SpiceJet flight and the concerned Air Traffic Control officer have been taken off duty pending inquiry.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation said it is closely monitoring the case and will take necessary steps to ensure aviation safety compliance at Delhi Airport and across India.

Passenger safety and airline response

An Akasa Air spokesperson confirmed that its aircraft operating flight QP 1406 was stationary when the incident occurred. The airline added that all passengers and crew were safely disembarked.

Alternative arrangements were made to ensure passengers could continue their journey to Hyderabad at the earliest.

DGCA focus on ground safety at IGI Airport

The DGCA probe will examine:

  • Ground movement coordination at IGI Airport
  • Air Traffic Control (ATC) communication procedures
  • Compliance with taxiing and wing walker protocols
  • Airline operational safety standards

The incident occurred around 2:15 pm as the SpiceJet aircraft arrived from Leh and was taxiing towards its designated gate.

IANS