A potential mid-air scare was averted, thankfully, as an Air India flight arriving from Hong Kong experienced a fire in its auxiliary power unit (APU) shortly after landing at the Delhi airport on Monday night. Fortunately, all passengers and crew members were reported safe, the airline confirmed.
Flight AI 315, which had completed its scheduled international route, had just parked at the designated gate when the APU, a device that powers onboard systems when engines are off, suddenly caught fire. The fire suppression system activated automatically, shutting the APU down and preventing further escalation.
&ldquo;The incident took place as passengers were beginning to disembark,&rdquo; said an Air India spokesperson. &ldquo;The system performed as designed, and all safety protocols were immediately followed. Everyone on board exited the aircraft without harm.&rdquo;
The aircraft has now been grounded for a detailed technical inspection, and India&rsquo;s aviation safety watchdog, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has been notified.
The fire resulted in minor damage to the aircraft, and authorities have launched a thorough investigation to assess the cause and ensure such malfunctions are prevented in the future.
In a separate development earlier the today, Air India completed precautionary checks on the fuel control switch (FCS) locking mechanisms across its fleet of Boeing 737 and 787 Dreamliner aircraft. These inspections were carried out under DGCA&rsquo;s safety advisory issued following the tragic Ahmedabad crash last month, in which 260 people lost their lives.
That crash, which involved a Dreamliner, is currently under scrutiny after a preliminary AAIB report suggested engine shutdowns caused by fuel cut off shortly after takeoff.
Air India stated that no faults were found during the FCS checks and reaffirmed its commitment to passenger safety.

AI Flight Catches Fire in Delhi; Passengers safe

AI 315’s power unit ignites post landing in Delhi; passengers, crew safely disembark

AI Flight Catches Fire in Delhi; Passengers safe

AI 315’s power unit ignites post landing in Delhi; passengers, crew safely disembark

July 22, 2025 | 19:02 IST