Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): A Zurich-bound aircraft operated by Swiss International Air Lines was forced to halt take-off at Indira Gandhi International Airport in the early hours of Sunday after a technical issue was detected in one of its engines.
The Airbus A330, scheduled to operate flight LX147 to Zurich, was carrying over 230 passengers, including infants, at the time of the incident. According to officials, the crew noticed a problem moments into the take-off roll and immediately initiated a rejected take-off procedure.
Sources indicated that smoke was seen near one of the landing gears, prompting the activation of emergency protocols. As a precautionary measure, the aircraft was evacuated, with passengers exiting through emergency slides. Ground teams and emergency responders were quickly deployed at the site.
An airline spokesperson confirmed that a small number of passengers required medical attention following the evacuation. A few individuals who could not use the slides were assisted via stairs.
The airline has arranged for technical experts to assess the aircraft and determine the cause of the malfunction. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to provide alternative travel arrangements for affected passengers.
Airport operations were briefly impacted during the response, but normal activity has since resumed. Authorities are continuing their review to ensure safety compliance and prevent similar incidents in the future.
