Full Breakdown
Swiss Flight LX147 Abort Takeoff After Engine Failure
4/26/2026, 11:59:40 PM
Incident Summary
At 01:00 time on 26 April 2026, Swiss International Air Lines flight LX147, an Airbus A330-300 bound for Zurich, began its take-off roll on runway 28/10 at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. At 104 knots left-hand Rolls-Royce Trent 772 engine emitted a loud bang, caught fire and failed. Crew rejected take-off, applied brakes and stopped the aircraft. Evacuation slides were deployed and cabin cleared within minutes.
Flight Data
The A330-300 carried 228 passengers, four infants and 13 crew. Reports listed six passenger injuries, including two leg fractures; updates reduced the tally to four passengers and one crew member with a sprained ankle. Left engine was a Rolls-Royce Trent 772.
Official Response
Swiss International Air Lines confirmed the engine issue and crew’s decision to abort the take-off and evacuate. The airline created a task force to investigate and a crisis unit working with airport authorities. Indira Gandhi International Airport declared an emergency, deployed fire-fighting equipment and later resumed runway operations.
Passenger Conduct Criticism
Observers reported that passengers retrieved bags, filmed evacuation and paused for selfies, actions that can delay egress and raise risk. Commentators warned that measures such as locking overhead bins may provoke resistance, urging safety planning to reflect passenger behavior.
Ground Observations
Crews saw smoke on left side of the aircraft and a fire on the left main gear, which a fire truck sprayed. Slides were used for evacuation. Six passengers required medical attention; two suffered leg fractures. Passengers were observed taking photos and videos during the slide descent.
Report Discrepancies
Sources differ on injuries: Swiss first reported six passenger injuries, later revised to four, and one source noted a crew member with a sprained ankle while another said all crew were unharmed. Cause of engine failure remains under investigation.
Quotes
- "Shortly after 1 a.m. local time on April 26, an issue occurred with one of the engines during the takeoff of flight LX147 in Delhi. The crew aborted the takeoff and, after assessing the situation, decided as a precaution to evacuate the aircraft," — Swiss International Air Lines, statement.
- "SWISS described the incident as distressing for everyone involved." — Swiss International Air Lines spokesperson.
- "The airline did not disclose further details about the injured passengers but stressed that passenger and crew safety remains its top priority." — Swiss International Air Lines spokesperson.
- "Ground staff are assisting passengers with re-booking and hotel accommodation, and the airline is coordinating closely with local authorities." — Swiss International Air Lines spokesperson.
Outlook
Specialists are inspecting the aircraft in Delhi to determine the engine failure’s root cause. Swiss’s task force will issue a report after its investigation. Regulators are expected to review evacuation procedures in light of observed passenger behavior.
