The incident took place at approximately 2:15 PM near Terminal 1. According to airport officials and the aviation regulator, the collision involved a SpiceJet flight arriving from Leh and a stationary Akasa Air flight preparing for departure.
The Incident Details
The Aircraft: SpiceJet flight SG-124 (Leh to Delhi) and Akasa Air flight QP-1406 (Delhi to Hyderabad).
The Sequence: The Akasa aircraft was stationary on the apron after push-back, waiting to depart. The SpiceJet aircraft was taxiing toward its parking bay when its winglet struck the Akasa plane.
The Damage: The right-hand winglet of the SpiceJet B737-700 was severely damaged, and a portion of it reportedly became lodged in the left-hand horizontal stabilizer (the tail section) of the Akasa aircraft.
Immediate Impact and Safety
Passenger Safety: Both airlines confirmed that all passengers and crew on both flights were safe. No injuries were reported.
Alternative Arrangements: Akasa Air passengers were deboarded and moved to a different aircraft to continue their journey to Hyderabad.
Grounding: Both involved aircraft have been grounded for extensive repairs and structural integrity checks.
DGCA Investigation and Action
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken a serious view of the ground occurrence and initiated a high-level probe.
Derostering: The pilots of the SpiceJet flight and the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) on duty at the time have been derostered (removed from flying/duty) pending the outcome of the investigation.
Focus of Inquiry: Investigators are looking into whether there was a lapse in the taxiing instructions provided by the ATC or a failure by the pilots to maintain adequate wing-tip clearance.
Forensic Check: The flight data recorders and cockpit voice recorders will be analyzed to recreate the exact timeline of the taxiing movements.
Airline Statements
“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.” — Akasa Air Spokesperson
“A SpiceJet B737-700 aircraft was involved in a ground occurrence… resulting in damage to its right winglet and the horizontal stabiliser of another aircraft.” — SpiceJet Spokesperson
Recent Ground Safety Concerns at IGIA
This incident adds to a string of ground safety concerns at Delhi Airport in 2026, where increased traffic at Terminal 1 has led to tighter maneuvering spaces on the aprons. Aviation experts suggest that ground congestion and pilot fatigue are key areas that the DGCA needs to address in its upcoming safety audit.