New Delhi: A SpiceJet flight arriving from Leh collided with a parked Akasa Air aircraft at Terminal 1 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport around 2.15 pm Thursday. The Akasa aircraft was preparing for departure for Hyderabad when the incoming SpiceJet aircraft hit the stationary aircraft.
Due to the impact, the right winglet of the Spicejet aircraft and the left-hand horizontal stabiliser of the Akasa aircraft have been damaged. Both aircraft have been grounded and are parked.
The collision was promptly reported to all relevant authorities, with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) taking stock of the situation.
The DGCA said in a statement: “On 16.04.2026 Spicejet winglet of B-737-700 aircraft, VT-SLB taxiing in the allocated parking bay after operating flight SG-124 (Leh-Delhi) at Terminal 1 hit the horizontal tail surface (HTS) of Akasa B-737 aircraft positioned on the apron after push back for operating flight on sector (Delhi-Hyderabad).”
A Spicejet statement said: “On April 16, 2026, a SpiceJet B737-700 aircraft was involved in a ground occurrence while taxiing at Delhi airport, resulting in damage to its right winglet and the left-hand horizontal stabiliser of another aircraft belonging to a different airline. The SpiceJet aircraft has been grounded at Delhi.”
Akasa’s statement read: “Akasa Air’s aircraft operating flight QP 1406 from Delhi to Hyderabad had to return to the bay on April 16, 2026. Preliminary information indicates that Akasa’s aircraft was stationary when another airline’s aircraft made contact with it. All passengers and crew were safely disembarked, and our ground teams are making alternative arrangements to fly our passengers to Hyderabad at the earliest. In line with established protocols, the relevant authorities have been informed, and the matter is under investigation.”
On 3 February, an Air India and IndiGo aircraft were involved in a minor on-ground collision after their wing tips brushed while taxiing at Mumbai Airport. The incident had prompted a DGCA investigation.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
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