DGCA begins probe after loose ground service gear damages 3 Air India jets during rain at Delhi airport

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India's aviation watchdog, on Monday announced that it has launched an inquiry into an incident in which three stationary Air India passenger jets sustained damage at Delhi's international airport after being struck by ground service equipment on Sunday.

The trio of aeroplanes has been taken out of service for safety checks and repairs, the DGCA said in an official statement.

Three Air India single-aisle jets stationed at Terminal 2 of Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport suffered structural harm when airport service gear rammed into them during a sudden bout of fierce gales and downpours, according to the airport operator.

"Three Air India A320 aircraft parked at the Delhi Airport terminal-II were damaged by ground equipment/foreign object debris (FOD) during adverse weather conditions around 16:30 hours (on Sunday)," the statement said.

Driven by violent gusts, two pieces of ramp machinery parked at a neighbouring bay and surrounding sectors drifted from their designated spots and collided with two separate airframes across multiple points, inflicting surface damage, the statement detailed.

Furthermore, the report noted that the cockpit's right-side sliding glass pane on a third jet cracked during the collision sequence.

Ramp apparatus operated by Air India Engineering and IndiGo broke free from their storage zones amid the abrupt bout of severe weather, impacting the aircraft resting at Terminal 2, the airport operator stated.

“All three aircraft have been grounded for inspection and maintenance. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation is investigating the matter,” the statement said.

State-run AI Engineering Services Ltd (AIESL) operates under the umbrella of AI Asset Holding Corp, an entity established following Air India's transition to private ownership.

The operator also said that the Air Traffic Control had issued no warning (to the airport operator or airlines) about any change in weather.

According to a PTI report on Sunday, along with the three Air India planes, aircraft of other operators were also impacted due to the hostile weather conditions. Of the three impacted aircraft, two will be back in operation soon, while the third will take a little longer to be fixed, it added.

SpiceJet to add 3 Airbus A320s

Meanwhile, SpiceJet is bolstering its fleet and service readiness. The low-cost Indian carrier has concluded a leasing arrangement to bring in three Airbus A320 planes, which are set to integrate into the carrier's operations shortly.

"SpiceJet has finalised a lease agreement to induct three Airbus A320 aircraft on a damp lease basis, further strengthening its fleet and operational capabilities," the airline said in a statement.

The budget airline plans to introduce these three Airbus A320 jets into its network in July 2026, according to a company statement.

"SpiceJet has also successfully ungrounded and returned a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to service. The aircraft has already commenced commercial operations," the statement added.

Separately, SpiceJet has successfully restored a grounded Boeing 737 MAX to the skies, and the plane has already restarted passenger flights.

The enhanced seat capacity will reinforce the airline's schedule during peak holiday periods, providing improved routing adaptability for both domestic and overseas flights.

"The additional capacity will support the airline's network requirements during the busy travel season and provide greater operational flexibility across its domestic and international routes," it said.