grounded aircraft Archives

SpiceJet Delhi-Leh Flight Makes Emergency Return After Engine Snag, All 150 Onboard Safe

Aviation Today News Desk / February 25, 2026

New Delhi, India: A SpiceJet aircraft operating on the SG-121 Delhi–Leh route made an emergency return to Indira Gandhi International […]

Incidents

Scandinavian Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing After Cabin Smoke Alert

Aviation Today News Desk / February 18, 2026

Trondheim, Norway: A Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) domestic flight was forced to make an emergency diversion to Trondheim Airport Værnes on

Kolkata, India: A Turkish Airlines Airbus A330 on a scheduled service from Kathmandu, Nepal, to Istanbul, Turkey made a full emergency landing at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata, on Wednesday afternoon after the crew reported a fire in the aircraft’s right engine shortly after take-off. The flight, operating as THY-727, departed Tribhuvan International Airport at approximately 1:28 PM local time with 236 people on board 225 passengers and 11 crew members. Within four minutes of take-off, the pilots received a warning of a possible fire in the right engine and immediately shut down the affected unit. Following standard emergency procedures, the captain declared a PAN PAN distress call, an international aviation signal indicating an urgent situation and elected to divert the long-haul flight to Kolkata rather than continue towards its planned destination. Air traffic control at Kolkata was informed of the situation, and a full emergency response was activated, deploying firefighting and rescue units ahead of the aircraft’s arrival. The Airbus A330, capable of flying on a single engine, landed safely at around 2:49 PM IST without incident. Officials from both Nepal and Indian aviation authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported among passengers or crew. Tribhuvan International Airport briefly suspended operations for about 15 minutes following the alarm. After landing, the aircraft was parked at Kolkata Airport and underwent detailed technical inspection to determine the exact cause and extent of the engine malfunction. Passengers were reportedly accommodated in local hotels while arrangements were made for onward travel, including plans for a replacement aircraft earlyThursday morning.

Incidents

Turkish Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing In Kolkata After Engine Fire Mid-Air

Aviation Today News Desk / February 5, 2026

Kolkata, India: A Turkish Airlines Airbus A330 on a scheduled service from Kathmandu, Nepal, to Istanbul, Turkey made a full

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

Kochi, India: An Air India Express flight operating from Jeddah to Kozhikode made an emergency landing at Kochi’s Cochin International Airport on Thursday after a suspected landing gear tyre failure was detected mid-flight, airport and airline officials confirmed. The Boeing 737 aircraft was diverted to Kochi as a precaution after the flight crew received an alert indicating a technical issue related to the landing gear. Emergency response protocols were immediately activated at the airport, and the aircraft landed safely without incident. All passengers and crew disembarked safely, with no injuries reported. Airport authorities said fire and rescue services were deployed along the runway as part of standard safety measures. Post-landing inspections confirmed damage to one of the aircraft’s tyres, following which the aircraft was grounded for detailed technical checks. Air India Express said passenger safety remained its top priority and that alternative arrangements were made to transport passengers to Kozhikode. Some passengers were accommodated on subsequent flights, while others were transported by road. Operations at Kochi airport continued normally after a brief precautionary disruption. The airline has initiated a comprehensive technical assessment of the aircraft in accordance with regulatory requirements. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is expected to review the incident as part of routine oversight procedures applicable to technical diversions.

Incidents

Air India Express Flight Diverts To Kochi After Suspected Landing Gear Tyre Issue

Aviation Today News Desk / December 18, 2025

Kochi, India: An Air India Express flight operating from Jeddah to Kozhikode made an emergency landing at Kochi’s Cochin International

New Delhi, India: India’s largest airline, IndiGo, is gearing up for a record-scale pilot recruitment drive to meet the February 10 DGCA deadline under revised flight duty regulations, following a surge in flight cancellations due to operational strain. Pilot Availability and Recruitment Plan For its Airbus fleet, IndiGo reported 2,357 captains and 2,194 first officers as of December. The airline plans to bolster its crew numbers in the coming months as follows: By end-December 2025: 25 captains and 35 first officers January 2026: 28 captains and 35 first officers By February 10, 2026: 15 captains and 20 first officers This recruitment would raise the total to 2,425 captains and 2,284 first officers by the February compliance date. As per its FY25 annual report, IndiGo had 5,456 pilots in total, including captains and first officers. India’s civil-aviation regulator, DGCA, has granted a one-time relaxation of certain night-duty and crew-rest provisions under the revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms to help stabilize operations after hundreds of flight cancellations last week by IndiGo. The relaxation, valid until 10 February 2026, covers night-flying limits and allows leave to count as part of weekly rest periods. The disruption began after the second phase of FDTL norms took effect on 1 November 2025, introducing stricter duty-hour caps, night-flying restrictions, and extended weekly rest measures to reduce pilot fatigue and improve safety. Airlines struggled with roster planning and crew availability under the new rules, leading to widespread cancellations. Thousands of passengers at major airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad faced delays, long queues, and frustration. Airlines warned disruptions would continue for a few more days and began scaling down operations from 8 December to restore normal service. To manage crew shortages, IndiGo announced it would cancel 300–400 flights daily between 5 and 8 December to reset its roster, followed by a revised schedule from 10 to 31 December. Analysts have flagged that the scale and speed of recruitment may be difficult to achieve. Elara Securities estimates IndiGo may need to hire at least 900 pilots to comply fully by February. “Meeting this target could be challenging, as poaching talent is difficult due to long notice periods, six months for co-pilots and 12 months for captains,” said Gagan Dixit, Senior Vice President at Elara Securities. Mark D Martin, CEO of Martin Consulting, added that immediate availability remains a key constraint, noting that foreign pilot hiring requires a minimum of three months for regulatory clearances. IndiGo operates 417 aircraft, including A320s, ATRs, a Boeing jet on wet lease, and freighters. Nearly 40 A320 aircraft remain grounded due to engine issues with Pratt & Whitney, reducing the effective A320 fleet to about 325 aircraft. These aircraft are flown for about 14 hours daily, significantly higher than the industry norm of 8.5 hours. At this utilisation, IndiGo requires 17 pilot-and-copilot sets per aircraft, versus the usual 14. Martin Consulting estimates the crew requirement at 5,525, while DGCA filings show 4,551 crew available in December, a shortfall of 974 pilots. IndiGo operates with 2.5 pilots per departure, compared to 5.4 pilots for Air India and Akasa Air. This reflects both IndiGo’s fleet concentration on narrow-body A320s and higher aircraft utilisation. The airline’s heavy reliance on high-utilisation A320 operations means that each additional flying hour amplifies its pilot requirement. With nearly 40 aircraft grounded, IndiGo is attempting to maintain schedules with fewer pilots, compounding the challenge just as night-operation curbs tighten. Analysts warn that bridging the gap will require aggressive recruitment, expedited training, and regulatory approvals, all while maintaining operational safety.

Airlines

IndiGo To Hire 900 Pilots In Record Drive Ahead Of DGCA Night-Flight Deadline

Aviation Today News Desk / December 8, 2025

New Delhi, India: India’s largest airline, IndiGo, is gearing up for a record-scale pilot recruitment drive to meet the February

London, United Kingdom: A United Airlines wide-body aircraft operating a scheduled long-haul service from London to San Francisco made an unscheduled emergency landing at Edinburgh Airport on Thursday after a reported burning smell and a technical alert inside the cockpit. The flight, operating as United Airlines Flight UA949, departed London Heathrow Airport for San Francisco International Airport on December 4. Around 90 minutes after takeoff, while cruising over northern airspace, the crew detected a possible technical issue linked to a brake-temperature sensor along with reports of a burning smell inside the cabin. Following standard emergency procedures, the pilots declared a general emergency (squawk 7700) and diverted the aircraft to the nearest suitable airport. The Boeing 777-200ER, registered N74007, landed safely at Edinburgh Airport at approximately 4:35 p.m. local time. Emergency services were positioned on standby as a precaution, but no injuries were reported among the passengers or crew. A total of 162 passengers and 12 crew members were on board at the time of the diversion. United Airlines confirmed the safe landing and said that passengers were provided hotel accommodation and rebooked on alternative flights to continue their journeys. The aircraft remains grounded in Edinburgh pending a full technical inspection. While initial indications point to a false or precautionary alert related to the brake system, aviation officials have not yet confirmed the exact cause. A detailed engineering review is expected before the aircraft returns to service. The incident caused short-term disruption at Edinburgh Airport but did not impact regular operations in the long term.

Incidents

United Airlines London–San Francisco Flight Diverts To Edinburgh After Burning Smell

Aviation Today News Desk / December 5, 2025

London, United Kingdom: A United Airlines wide-body aircraft operating a scheduled long-haul service from London to San Francisco made an

Malé, Maldives: A Boeing 737 MAX 8 belonging to flydubai was damaged on 4 December 2025 after a ground‑services fuel truck struck the aircraft while it was parked at Velana International Airport (MLE), the airline confirmed. The aircraft registration A6‑FMM, operating flight FZ1025 from Dubai (DXB) had just arrived in Malé when the collision occurred on the apron during routine ground handling at approximately 08:50 local time. Reports indicate that the lower left‑hand winglet sustained damage. flydubai swiftly confirmed that all passengers and crew disembarked safely, with no injuries, fuel spillage or fire risk reported. The airline said affected travellers have been re‑accommodated on the next available flights while the damaged aircraft undergoes inspection and repair. The next scheduled leg, a flight from Malé to Colombo, was cancelled as a result of the incident. Authorities at the Maldives airport are expected to launch a formal investigation into the incident, focusing on apron safety protocols, ground‑handling procedures and vehicle movement controls around parked aircraft. flydubai reiterated that the “safety of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority at all times.” The aircraft will remain grounded until repairs are completed and regulatory standards for airworthiness are satisfied. On 28 November 2025 a Emirates Airbus A380‑842 at Manchester Airport (UK) was struck by a fuel‑truck while parked at a gate, during routine turnaround after arrival from Dubai. The collision damaged the cowling of the engine intake though there was no fuel leak, fire or injuries and forced cancellation of the return flight EK18 to Dubai. The aircraft remained grounded for inspections and repairs, and took off again on 30 November for flight EK20 to Dubai, signalling the damage was deemed repairable.

Incidents

Flydubai Boeing 737 MAX 8 Damaged In Ground Collision At Maldives Airport, No Injuries

Aviation Today News Desk / December 5, 2025

Malé, Maldives: A Boeing 737 MAX 8 belonging to flydubai was damaged on 4 December 2025 after a ground‑services fuel truck

New Delhi, India: SpiceJet, one of India’s leading low-cost carriers, has once again delayed salary payments for a significant portion of its workforce, According to the report by PTI senior employees who are earning above ₹55,000 per month are affected. While junior staff reportedly received their August salaries on time, senior employees, including Assistant Managers and above, are facing delays of up to 15 days, according to company sources. The airline has cited a “phased disbursement schedule” as the reason for the delay, stating that payments for higher-earning employees are staggered during lean periods. The delays affect a substantial number of employees, with the airline employing 6,484 staff, of whom 4,894 are permanent employees. Reports suggest that the salary delays predominantly impact employees in managerial and senior technical roles. These delays come at a time when the airline is navigating financial pressures, including a net loss of ₹238 crore reported in the June quarter of 2025. During 2024-25, SpiceJet provided an interest-free advance to Ajay Singh, who is the Chairman and Managing Director, an amount of Rs 32 crore for a five-year period in accordance with the Nomination and Remuneration Committee and board-approved policy of the company, as per the annual report. "The company has adjusted the advance from the salary of subsequent months (April and May 2025), as per the company's policy. Further, this advance is not prejudicial to the interest of the company," the report said. The Airline said that losses are mainly due to costs linked to several grounded aircrafts and expenses for bringing them back into service. It has only 21 aircraft operational out of 56 and 35 grounded. Employees impacted by the delayed payments have expressed concerns over financial planning, especially as the delayed salaries coincide with ongoing personal and household obligations. While junior employees received their payments on schedule, the staggered payments for senior staff have raised questions about employee morale and retention. Last September, the airline raised ₹3,000 crore through a Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP), with plans to use the funds to operationalize grounded aircraft, purchase new planes, invest in technology, and enter new markets. Despite these intentions, progress has been slow, and a substantial number of aircraft remain grounded.

Airlines

SpiceJet Delays Senior Staff Salaries Amid Financial Strain and Operational Challenges

Aviation Today News Desk / September 16, 2025

New Delhi, India: SpiceJet, one of India’s leading low-cost carriers, has once again delayed salary payments for a significant portion

Taipei, Taiwan: A UPS Boeing 747-8F freighter, operating as flight 5X61 from Hong Kong to Louisville via scheduled stops in Taipei and Anchorage experienced a dramatic and potentially serious incident while attempting to land at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) amid severe weather from Typhoon Podul. The incident has triggered concern among aviation observers and gone viral on social media. The aircraft encountered intense gusty winds linked to the typhoon, leading to two aborted landing attempts. On its third approach, the No. 4 engine pod located on the outer section of the right wing struck the runway, generating a burst of sparks and visibly damaging the nacelle. According to the Aviation Safety Network, UPS flight 5X61 began its first approach to the runway around 7:20 p.m. local time. The pilots aborted the approach to runway 05L and executed a go-around, before scraping the engine during the second attempt. Finally, around 8 p.m., the aircraft touched down and completed its rollout despite the damage. Footage of the incident spread quickly online, prompting widespread attention. The visual captured not only the spark-filled impact but also the challenging weather conditions faced by the crew. With Typhoon Podul battering Taiwan, airlines had already canceled or delayed hundreds of flights, and questions are being raised over whether UPS flight 5X61 should have diverted earlier rather than attempt multiple landings in dangerous conditions. Taiwan’s Civil Aeronautics Administration is expected to launch a formal investigation, reviewing flight data and cockpit recordings to determine the sequence of decisions that led to the runway strike. Until inspections are complete, the aircraft will remain grounded in Taipei. Operational disruption was significant, 180 departures and 141 arrivals were delayed at Taipei that day.

Incidents

UPS 747 Cargo Jet Damaged After Engine Pod Scrapes Runway in Taipei Typhoon Landing Try

Aviation Today News Desk / August 16, 2025

Taipei, Taiwan: A UPS Boeing 747-8F freighter, operating as flight 5X61 from Hong Kong to Louisville via scheduled stops in

grounded aircraft

SpiceJet Delhi-Leh Flight Makes Emergency Return After Engine Snag, All 150 Onboard Safe

Scandinavian Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing After Cabin Smoke Alert

Turkish Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing In Kolkata After Engine Fire Mid-Air

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

Air India Express Flight Diverts To Kochi After Suspected Landing Gear Tyre Issue

United Airlines London–San Francisco Flight Diverts To Edinburgh After Burning Smell

Flydubai Boeing 737 MAX 8 Damaged In Ground Collision At Maldives Airport, No Injuries

SpiceJet Delays Senior Staff Salaries Amid Financial Strain and Operational Challenges

UPS 747 Cargo Jet Damaged After Engine Pod Scrapes Runway in Taipei Typhoon Landing Try

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