Ground Operations Archives

Mumbai, India: A minor fire broke out at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport’s Terminal 1 in Mumbai on the evening of April 9, 2026, leading to smoke accumulation inside parts of the terminal and temporary disruption for passengers. The incident occurred around 6:10 PM and was traced to an electrical short circuit in the ground-floor utility and power distribution area near the 1B section of the terminal. According to airport and civic officials, the fire originated in electrical cable trays and power supply installations located in a restricted service zone of Terminal 1. The affected area is understood to house critical electrical infrastructure, including wiring ducts and distribution panels. The blaze did not spread beyond the utility section but generated heavy smoke, which quickly seeped into adjoining passenger areas. Thick smoke was reported across parts of the terminal building, including nearby check-in and movement zones, causing brief confusion among passengers and congestion at several points. While the fire remained confined to the technical section, visibility in some areas of the terminal was affected, prompting precautionary movement restrictions within Terminal 1. The airport’s emergency response system was activated immediately, with on-site fire and rescue teams responding first, followed by multiple units from the Mumbai Fire Brigade. Firefighting operations focused on isolating the electrical source and preventing the spread of flames through cable networks. Officials later confirmed that the fire was brought under control within minutes, while cooling and safety checks continued for several hours before the situation was fully normalised. Authorities classified the incident as a minor or Level-1 fire. Preliminary assessments indicate that the cause was a short circuit in electrical wiring and power systems. The fire was fully extinguished by around 9:20 PM, after thorough cooling operations and inspection of affected infrastructure. Despite airport authorities stating that overall flight operations remained largely unaffected and runway movements continued normally, the incident led to short-term operational impact during the evening peak period. Around 23 flights, including those operated by IndiGo, SpiceJet, Akasa Air, and Star Air, scheduled between 7 pm and 9 pm, were delayed, according to officials. The delays were mainly attributed to temporary ground handling constraints, including passenger movement, baggage processing, and gate allocation, as emergency protocols were implemented in the affected terminal area. Airport officials also confirmed that no injuries or casualties were reported. Emergency protocols ensured that passengers were kept away from affected areas, and no evacuation of the entire terminal was required. Key systems in the affected zone, including electrical supply and certain communication infrastructure, were temporarily shut down as a precaution and restored after safety clearance.

Fire Breaks Out At Mumbai Airport Triggering Smoke Chaos; Operations Unaffected

Aviation Today News Desk / April 10, 2026

Mumbai, India: A minor fire broke out at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport’s Terminal 1 in Mumbai on the evening […]

Brussels, Belgium: A Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) Airbus A320neo operating flight SK2590 from Brussels Airport (BRU) to Copenhagen (CPH) narrowly avoided a serious runway incident on Thursday evening after pilots inadvertently initiated a takeoff roll on a taxiway rather than the designated runway, aviation tracking data and eyewitness reports confirm. The flight, cleared for departure from Runway 07R shortly after 21:00 UTC, taxied toward the runway but instead turned onto a parallel taxiway (identified as E1/V1) and began accelerating as if commencing a normal departure. Flightradar24 data shows the aircraft reached approximately 107 knots (around 198 km/h) before the crew recognised the error and aborted the takeoff, applying heavy braking and reverse thrust to bring the aircraft to a stop near the end of the taxiway and adjacent grassy area. All 135 passengers and crew disembarked safely, and there are no reported injuries. Airport fire and rescue services assisted passengers, who were later rebooked onto alternate flights to Copenhagen. SAS’s Head of Communications, Alexandra Lindgren Kaoukji, confirmed the incident to Danish broadcaster TV 2, stating that the flight from Brussels to Copenhagen was canceled due to an “irregularity.” She confirmed the airline’s account of an aborted departure and that passengers were accommodated on subsequent services. Belgian civil aviation authorities have initiated a formal investigation into the circumstances that led to the aircraft taking the wrong surface for departure. Investigators will review air traffic control communications, flight crew procedures, and airport surface signage and lighting, particularly given the complex layout of taxiways and runways at one of Europe’s busiest hubs. The taxiway departures are rare and emphasise the importance of rigorous cross-checks by flight crews and air traffic controllers to ensure correct runway alignment before high-speed acceleration. Any final determinations about human factors or procedural issues will await the outcome of the official investigation

Incidents

SAS A320neo Narrowly Avoids Runway Incident After Taxiway Takeoff Attempt In Brussels

Aviation Today News Desk / February 6, 2026

Brussels, Belgium: A Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) Airbus A320neo operating flight SK2590 from Brussels Airport (BRU) to Copenhagen (CPH) narrowly avoided

Mumbai, India: Two commercial aircraft operating at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) were involved in a ground collision involving their wingtips on Tuesday evening, prompting inspections and an immediate probe by aviation authorities. All passengers and crew onboard both flights were unharmed, officials confirmed. The incident occurred at approximately 7:30 pm IST when Air India flight AI 2732, bound for Coimbatore, was taxiing for departure and the IndiGo flight 6E 791 had just landed from Hyderabad and was taxiing toward the terminal. Both aircraft involved were narrow-body Airbus A320s. According to Air India, the right wingtip of its aircraft made contact with the wingtip of the IndiGo aircraft while maneuvering on the taxiway prior to taking off. The airline said the contact resulted in damage to its aircraft’s wingtip, and the aircraft was immediately grounded for technical checks as a precautionary measure. All passengers were safely deplaned, and ground teams began arranging alternative onward travel. IndiGo released a separate statement confirming that the wingtip of its aircraft operating flight 6E 791 touched the wing of another airline’s aircraft while taxiing after landing. The airline said all passengers disembarked safely, and its aircraft is undergoing maintenance inspection in line with standard protocols. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) dispatched a team from its Mumbai office to the site soon after the incident. DGCA officials confirmed both aircraft returned to their respective bays and were taken out of service pending inspection. The regulator has initiated an inquiry to determine the factors leading to the collision, focusing on ground vehicle and aircraft movement controls at the busy international airport. “No injuries have been reported among passengers or crew,” according to civil aviation sources, highlighting that the low-speed nature of the taxiing incident limited the impact to aircraft structures rather than human safety. The airport, which operates parallel runways and heavy traffic movements daily, did not report any significant disruptions to other flights following the incident. Authorities said that routine operations continued while the affected aircraft were inspected.

Incidents

Air India & IndiGo Aircraft Wingtips Collide At Mumbai Airport, No Injuries Reported

Aviation Today News Desk / February 4, 2026

Mumbai, India: Two commercial aircraft operating at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) were involved in a ground collision involving

Toronto, Canada: An Air Canada Rouge domestic flight was forced to return to the gate at Toronto Pearson International Airport on December 13, 2025, after a ground crew member became inadvertently trapped in the aircraft’s cargo hold, prompting passengers to alert cabin crew after hearing distressing noises. Flight AC1502, an Airbus A321 bound for Moncton, New Brunswick, had begun taxiing for departure when passengers seated toward the rear reported hearing screaming and banging sounds emanating from beneath the cabin. Several travellers notified flight attendants, who investigated and subsequently halted the aircraft’s progress. In a video shared on social media and verified by local media, the aircraft captain addressed passengers after the taxi was stopped. “I’ve never had that in my life. First time, hopefully first and last,” the pilot said, noting that the trapped individual was safely removed. According to Air Canada, the cargo doors were inadvertently closed while the ground crew member was still inside the hold, and he was discovered only after the plane had already begun to taxi. Emergency procedures were activated, and the aircraft immediately returned to the departure gate. The airline confirmed no injuries were reported and that the employee was freed from the cargo compartment without harm. In a statement to the media, Air Canada said it has “reinforced our procedures with our ground crews” to reduce the likelihood of similar incidents in the future. Passengers described the incident as unsettling. One traveller told CBC that the sounds from the hold were unmistakable and that flight attendants initially checked other areas of the aircraft before determining the source. The flight ultimately did not depart for Moncton as scheduled. Passengers were informed that the delay was beyond the control of the airline and that arrangements would be made for later travel.

Incidents

Air Canada Flight Returns To Toronto After Crew Member Trapped In Cargo Hold

Aviation Today News Desk / January 14, 2026

Toronto, Canada: An Air Canada Rouge domestic flight was forced to return to the gate at Toronto Pearson International Airport

Pune, India: A morning flight operated by Akasa Air from Pune to Bengaluru was significantly delayed on Tuesday after a last-minute technical issue was detected in the aircraft, leading the airline to deplane all passengers and reschedule the service. The Bengaluru-bound flight QP1312, scheduled to depart Pune at 8:50 am, had completed boarding by around 8:10 am when crew members identified a fault in the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft just before departure. Passengers remained seated on board for nearly 90 minutes before airline staff asked them to disembark as a precaution and to carry out further technical checks. In a communication to passengers, Akasa Air stated that the flight had been delayed due to operational reasons and provided a revised departure time of 1:15 pm. The airline also confirmed that the aircraft was undergoing inspection before it could be cleared for take-off. An Akasa Air spokesperson said that affected passengers were offered options to reschedule on an alternative evening flight, and that the refund process had been initiated for those who chose not to travel. Ground staff and Akasa Care teams remained available at Pune Airport to assist travellers. One passenger, who spoke to news agency PTI, confirmed that the flight was held up on the tarmac after a technical issue was reported and that all on board were asked to leave the aircraft once the problem was identified. No further details about the specific nature of the technical issue were provided publicly by the airline at the time of reporting. Akasa Air reiterated its commitment to passenger safety and said it regretted the inconvenience caused by the unforeseen delay.

Incidents

Akasa Air Pune–Bengaluru Flight QP1312 Face 4-Hour Delay After Technical Issue

Aviation Today News Desk / January 14, 2026

Pune, India: A morning flight operated by Akasa Air from Pune to Bengaluru was significantly delayed on Tuesday after a

São Paulo, Brazil: On 10 November, 2025 Eve Air Mobility and Revo have announced the first real-world operational deployment of Eve’s Vector Urban Air Traffic Management (UATM) software during the 2025 São Paulo Grand Prix, marking a significant milestone in the advancement of urban air mobility infrastructure. The deployment will take place at Autódromo José Carlos Pace (Interlagos), where Revo will use Vector to manage high-volume helicopter operations during the Formula 1 race weekend. The software will support real-time coordination of aircraft movements, ground operations and vertiport activity in one of the most demanding urban aviation environments in Brazil. Vector’s Vertiport and Ground Operations module will be used for the live operation. The module enables scheduling, traffic optimization, aircraft sequencing and digital coordination between air and ground teams. According to Eve Air Mobility, this marks the first time the software will operate outside a test or simulated environment. Eve stated that the deployment represents a critical step in validating Vector’s readiness for large-scale commercial use. The company also confirmed that a Fleet Operations module, designed to support both helicopters and future eVTOL aircraft, is scheduled for release in 2026. The deployment builds on the long-term partnership between Eve and Revo. In June 2025, Revo signed a framework agreement with Eve covering up to 50 electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, positioning São Paulo as one of the first cities expected to see large-scale commercial eVTOL services. Eve said real-world operations at a high-traffic international sporting event will provide critical data to refine Vector’s performance, scalability and safety features ahead of future urban eVTOL networks.

eVTOL

Eve Air Mobility, Revo Debut Vector Urban Air Traffic System At São Paulo GP

Aviation Today News Desk / December 3, 2025

São Paulo, Brazil: On 10 November, 2025 Eve Air Mobility and Revo have announced the first real-world operational deployment of

San Francisco, United States: September 3, 2025: Two United Airlines aircraft were involved in a ground collision at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on the evening of September 2, 2025, prompting flight cancellations and FAA scrutiny. According to airport officials, United Flight 1871, en route to Denver, struck the tail of United Flight 796, which was parked at the gate preparing for departure to Boston. The incident occurred during the pushback maneuver and took place in an area outside air traffic control supervision. Both planes were immediately returned to their gates for safety inspections, and all passengers were safely disembarked. No injuries were reported. The collision caused both flights to be canceled, leading to delays amid a busy evening schedule at the airport. The aircraft involved were both Boeing 737 MAX 9 models. Flight 796 had been delivered to United Airlines only a few months earlier. This incident adds to a growing series of ground collisions at SFO, including a wingtip collision in May 2025 involving United flights bound for Sydney and Hong Kong. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed that it is investigating the latest occurrence to determine its cause and implement measures to prevent similar events in the future. United Airlines has not yet released a detailed statement but is cooperating with investigators and conducting internal safety reviews. Ground collisions, though typically less severe than in-flight incidents, pose risks to aircraft integrity, passenger safety, and flight schedules, making airport ground operations and pushback coordination a priority for aviation authorities. Passengers affected by the canceled flights were offered alternate arrangements, and United Airlines is reportedly working to minimize further disruption.

Incidents

Two United Airlines Jets Collide on Ground at San Francisco Airport, FAA Investigates

Aviation Today News Desk / September 4, 2025

San Francisco, United States: September 3, 2025: Two United Airlines aircraft were involved in a ground collision at San Francisco

Ground Operations

Fire Breaks Out At Mumbai Airport Triggering Smoke Chaos; Operations Unaffected

SAS A320neo Narrowly Avoids Runway Incident After Taxiway Takeoff Attempt In Brussels

Air India & IndiGo Aircraft Wingtips Collide At Mumbai Airport, No Injuries Reported

Air Canada Flight Returns To Toronto After Crew Member Trapped In Cargo Hold

Akasa Air Pune–Bengaluru Flight QP1312 Face 4-Hour Delay After Technical Issue

Eve Air Mobility, Revo Debut Vector Urban Air Traffic System At São Paulo GP

Two United Airlines Jets Collide on Ground at San Francisco Airport, FAA Investigates

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