Quick summary
SWISS Flight LX147, an Airbus A330-300 carrying 232 people, aborted takeoff at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Saturday, April 27 after the left engine caught fire during the takeoff roll. All passengers and crew evacuated via emergency slides. Six passengers sustained injuries — including two with broken legs — during the chaotic evacuation, which saw travelers carrying luggage and filming on mobile phones despite crew instructions. The aircraft remains grounded pending a joint investigation by SWISS and India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
Official reports from SWISS and Indian authorities indicate six passengers were injured. The Delhi-Zurich route operates seven times weekly on A330-300 equipment — capacity constraints are likely until the aircraft receives clearance to return to service.
Pilots abort takeoff as engine fire erupts on runway
The Zurich-bound flight was accelerating on Runway 28 at approximately 1:00 a.m. local time when the cockpit crew detected an anomaly in the left engine. Fire erupted from Engine No. 1, prompting the pilots to reject the takeoff immediately. The aircraft, registered HB-JHK, came to a stop on the runway as airport fire and rescue teams responded.
A full emergency was declared at the airport. The captain ordered an evacuation via emergency slides — a decision that likely prevented far worse outcomes had the fire spread during a continued takeoff attempt.
Video footage from passengers shows a disorganized evacuation. Travelers descended slides while clutching carry-on bags, and several stopped to record video inside the cabin. One passenger sustained a sprained ankle; two others suffered leg fractures serious enough to require hospitalization at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram. Four additional passengers received treatment for minor bruises and were discharged.
SWISS activated its crisis task force and dispatched technical experts to Delhi to inspect the aircraft alongside DGCA investigators. The airline provided hotel accommodation and rebooking for all 228 passengers and four infants onboard. The aircraft was towed from Runway 28 after several hours, allowing airport operations to resume, though cascading delays affected departures across India’s busiest airport.
| Factor | Details | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Flight | LX147, A330-300 HB-JHK | Aircraft grounded pending investigation |
| Passengers | 228 adults + 4 infants | Hotel/rebooking provided by SWISS |
| Injuries | 6 passengers (2 leg fractures, 4 minor) | Hospitalized at Medanta, most discharged |
| Runway closure | Runway 28, several hours | Delays across Delhi airport, now resolved |
| Route frequency | 7x weekly DEL-ZRH | Capacity constraints until clearance |
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How evacuation injuries happen despite crew training
Emergency slide evacuations are designed to empty an aircraft in 90 seconds — a certification standard that assumes passengers follow crew instructions without hesitation. In practice, evacuations rarely meet that benchmark when passengers carry luggage, stop to retrieve belongings, or film the event.
Slide exits generate injuries even in controlled scenarios. Passengers unfamiliar with the steep descent angle often land awkwardly, and the speed required to clear the slide quickly increases the risk of fractures. Two passengers on Flight LX147 suffered broken legs — a common injury type during slide evacuations, particularly when travelers attempt to carry bags or hesitate at the exit door.
The video footage from Delhi shows passengers descending with carry-on luggage in hand, directly contradicting crew instructions to leave all belongings behind. This behavior slows the evacuation, increases the risk of injury to those behind, and creates obstacles on the tarmac. One crew member sustained an ankle sprain during the evacuation, likely while attempting to manage the flow of passengers.
SWISS is certified by the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation, which conducts annual audits and targeted post-incident reviews. The airline also undergoes IOSA recertification every two years. Delhi’s airport is overseen by DGCA and the Airports Authority of India, with quarterly audits and evacuation standards aligned with EASA CS-25 requirements.
The investigation will determine whether the engine failure resulted from a mechanical defect, maintenance issue, or external factor such as foreign object debris. If the fault is traced to a systemic issue affecting other A330 aircraft in the SWISS fleet, additional inspections and potential delays could follow.
What to do if your Delhi-Zurich flight is affected
The grounded A330 reduces available capacity on a route already operating at high demand — here is the priority order for protecting your trip.
- Check flight status immediately: Visit swiss.com/flight-status or call +41 848 700 700 to confirm whether your booking is affected. SWISS is rebooking passengers on the next available flight and providing hotel accommodation for overnight delays.
- Rebook on Air India if time-sensitive: Air India operates 14 weekly nonstop flights between Delhi and Zurich on 787-8 aircraft. Availability may be limited due to displaced SWISS passengers, but checking airindia.com early increases your chances of securing a seat.
- Monitor DGCA advisories: The investigation is expected to release preliminary findings within 7–14 days. Check dgca.gov.in for updates on A330 fleet inspections or route-specific advisories before traveling through Delhi before April 30.
- Consider alternative routing: United Airlines operates seven weekly flights from Delhi to Newark on 777-200 equipment, offering connections to Zurich via European hubs. This adds travel time but provides a fallback if direct capacity remains constrained.
Watch: SWISS and DGCA will release a joint investigation report within two weeks. If the engine fault is confirmed as systemic, expect fleet-wide A330 inspections and potential short-term delays on other SWISS routes.
Questions? Answers.
What caused the SWISS A330 to abort takeoff in Delhi?
The left engine (Engine No. 1) experienced an anomaly and caught fire during the takeoff roll on Runway 28. The pilots detected the issue and rejected the takeoff immediately, bringing the aircraft to a stop on the runway. The exact cause is under investigation by SWISS and India’s DGCA.
How many people were injured in the evacuation?
Six passengers sustained injuries during the emergency slide evacuation. Two passengers suffered broken legs and were hospitalized at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram. Four others received treatment for minor bruises and were discharged. One crew member sustained an ankle sprain.
Will this affect other SWISS flights from Delhi?
The grounded A330 reduces capacity on the Delhi-Zurich route, which operates seven times weekly. SWISS may deploy substitute aircraft or rebook passengers on partner airlines. If the investigation identifies a systemic engine issue, additional A330 inspections could affect other routes temporarily.
What are my rights if my SWISS flight is canceled or delayed?
For departures from India, DGCA rules require airlines to provide care and rebooking for technical faults, though fixed compensation is not mandated. For arrivals in Switzerland or the EU, passengers may be entitled to up to €600 compensation if delays exceed three hours after rebooking, under EASA and Swiss regulations.
