Three Air India aircraft parked at Delhi airport’s Terminal 2 (T2) sustained damage on Sunday when strong winds and heavy rain displaced nearby ground support equipment, causing it to strike the aeroplanes, airport officials said.
Officials from Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) confirmed that the three narrow-body aircraft had to be withdrawn from service following the incident.
An airport official stated that the three Air India aircraft were damaged due to ground support equipment hitting the aeroplanes as it shifted from its position because of the sudden strong wind and rain. The incident occurred at 4.40 pm during a spell of rain and gusty winds that swept through the capital on Sunday afternoon, disrupting airport operations and affecting flight schedules.
According to an airport official, no weather warning had been issued by Air Traffic Control (ATC) to either the airport operator or the airlines ahead of the sudden deterioration in weather conditions.
While Air India did not comment on the incident, an official familiar with the matter said aircraft belonging to other airlines were also affected by the severe weather. The official added that while all three damaged Air India aircraft have been grounded for inspection and repairs, two are expected to return to service shortly. Investigations into the matter are currently underway.
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