Delhi Airport Incident: SpiceJet, Akasa Planes Grounded After Ground Collision at Terminal 1
New Delhi, April 17, 2026 — A major ground safety incident was narrowly averted at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in New Delhi after two passenger aircraft—belonging to SpiceJet and Akasa Air—collided on the tarmac near Terminal 1.
Following the incident, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) immediately launched a comprehensive investigation and ordered the grounding of both aircraft for detailed structural inspections.
The Tarmac Collision
According to an official press release issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the incident occurred during routine ground movements. The aircraft involved were a SpiceJet Boeing 737-700 (operating flight SG-124 from Leh to Delhi) and an Akasa Air Boeing 737 MAX 8 (operating flight QP-1406 from Delhi to Hyderabad).
Initial reports indicate that the Akasa Air aircraft had successfully completed its pushback from Bay No. 104 and was stationary, positioned for engine start-up. Meanwhile, the SpiceJet aircraft, which had been holding near Bay No. 108, was cleared by the Air Traffic Control (ATC) to taxi towards Bay No. 106. This clearance was reportedly given only after the SpiceJet pilot verbally confirmed maintaining visual separation from the Akasa jet.
However, during the taxiing maneuver, the SpiceJet aircraft executed a turn without receiving the necessary clearance from the designated ground wing walker. As a result of this miscalculation, the right winglet of the SpiceJet plane scraped against the left horizontal stabilizer of the stationary Akasa Air aircraft.
Immediate Disciplinary Action
Both aircraft sustained visible damage from the impact and were immediately taken out of service to undergo necessary repairs and rectification.
Pending a thorough inquiry into the exact sequence of events and standard operating procedure (SOP) violations, the DGCA has taken strict disciplinary action. The pilots operating the SpiceJet aircraft, along with the concerned Air Traffic Control officer on duty at the time, have been temporarily de-rostered (taken off duty).
The aviation regulator’s probe will meticulously examine all technical and ground handling aspects that contributed to the lapse in safety. The Ministry of Civil Aviation stated that it is “closely monitoring the situation and is taking all necessary steps to uphold safety standards and prevent recurrence.”
