NEW DELHI: A significant scare unfolded at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport’s Terminal 3 (T3) on Tuesday afternoon when a ground-handling bus, operated by Air India SATS, suddenly caught fire near a parked aircraft.
The incident occurred near Bay 32 in the apron area of Terminal 3. Eyewitness reports and visuals shared online showed the bus engulfed in a fierce blaze, positioned just metres away from a large aircraft.
Crucially, airport officials confirmed that no passengers were onboard the bus at the time of the fire. The vehicle, used for ground operations, was reportedly empty except for the driver, who managed to escape unharmed.
Fire tenders and airport emergency services immediately rushed to the spot and were able to bring the fire under control swiftly—reportedly within minutes—preventing the flames from spreading to the nearby aircraft, fuel trucks, or other essential airport equipment.
There were no reported injuries and no damage to the nearby plane. Airport operations at T3 continued without major disruption. Authorities, including Delhi Police and the Airport Investigation team, have launched an inquiry to determine the exact cause of the fire, with initial suspicion centring on a technical fault in the vehicle
