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The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated an investigation into an incident that damaged three Air India aircraft at Delhi Airport during severe weather conditions on Sunday.
The aviation regulator confirmed that all three aircraft have been grounded for detailed inspections and necessary maintenance work.
According to the DGCA, the incident occurred around 4:30 PM on June 7 at Terminal 2 of Delhi Airport.
Strong winds accompanying heavy rainfall displaced ground equipment and foreign object debris, causing damage to the parked Air India A320 aircraft.
The regulator stated that two pieces of ground equipment, positioned at nearby aircraft stands, shifted from their designated locations due to powerful winds and struck two separate aircraft.
Another aircraft sustained damage when foreign object debris hit its right-side sliding window.
Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) confirmed that the incident involved three Air India narrow-body aircraft parked at Terminal 2.
Following the incident, authorities immediately withdrew all three aircraft from service and sent them for comprehensive inspections and repairs.
DIAL stated that the displaced equipment belonged to Air India Engineering Services and IndiGo’s ground handling operations.
Airport officials said weather conditions deteriorated rapidly and unexpectedly. They added that neither the airlines nor the airport operator received a warning about the sudden weather change from Air Traffic Control (ATC).
Reports also indicated that an aircraft operated by another airline may have suffered a weather-related impact during the storm.
Officials said two of the affected Air India aircraft are likely to return to service shortly. Repairs to the third aircraft may require additional time.
The incident highlights growing operational challenges caused by sudden weather disruptions, particularly during periods of intense rainfall and strong winds.
Several parts of Delhi-NCR experienced heavy rain and gusty conditions on Sunday, including areas surrounding Indira Gandhi International Airport.
The IMD has forecast very light to light rainfall on June 11 and 12. The weather department also expects thunderstorms. Wind speeds could touch 60 kmph.
The DGCA investigation will examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and assess safety measures during adverse weather events.
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