SpiceJet and Akasa Air Aircraft Grounded Following Runway Collision at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport

SpiceJet and Akasa Air jets suffer wing damage during a ground incident at Delhi's IGI Airport. Read about the emergency response and passenger safety status.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 16, 2026, 11:30 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Straits Times

Ground Collision Disrupts Terminal Operations

A high-stakes taxiing incident unfolded at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on April 16, resulting in the immediate grounding of two commercial aircraft. The accident occurred at approximately 2:15 pm in the vicinity of Terminal 1 as the planes were navigating the tarmac. While both aircraft were carrying passengers at the time of the impact, emergency protocols were successfully executed, ensuring that everyone on board was disembarked without injury.

Specific Damage to Commercial Fleets

The physical fallout of the collision was localized to critical aerodynamic components of the two jets. A SpiceJet B737-700, which had recently landed following a flight from Leh, suffered damage to its right winglet. Simultaneously, an Akasa Air aircraft, which was prepared for a domestic departure to Hyderabad, sustained a strike to its left-hand horizontal stabilizer. Images and reports from the scene confirmed that while the structural integrity appeared intact, the precision components required immediate technical intervention.

Conflicting Accounts of Taxiing Dynamics

Preliminary investigations into the movement of the vessels suggest a discrepancy in how the contact occurred. An Akasa Air spokesperson stated that their aircraft was completely stationary at the time of the incident, implying that the other vessel made contact with them. However, a representative for SpiceJet described the event as a "ground occurrence" while taxiing, acknowledging the resulting damage to both their own winglet and the stabilizer of the neighboring airline's plane.