Post by : Rameen Ariff

A major scare unfolded at Delhi Airport’s Terminal 3 on Tuesday afternoon when a bus parked just meters away from an Air India aircraft suddenly caught fire. The bus, operated by SATS Airport Services Pvt. Ltd., was completely engulfed in flames, but fortunately, no passengers or staff were injured in the incident. The Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), which manages the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), described it as a “stray incident” and confirmed that all flight operations remain normal.

According to officials, the Delhi Airport bus fire occurred near bay number 32 around noon. The bus was stationary and unoccupied when it caught fire. The Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) team at Delhi Airport responded immediately and managed to extinguish the flames within minutes, preventing the fire from spreading to nearby aircraft or equipment.

In an official statement, Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) said, “In a stray incident, a bus operated by one of the ground handlers caught fire around noon today. Our expert ARFF team immediately swung into action and extinguished the fire within a couple of minutes. The bus was stationary and vacant at the time of the incident. There were no injuries or casualties. All operations continue to be normal. Safety of our passengers and staff remains paramount.”

Eyewitness footage of the Delhi Airport bus fire quickly circulated on social media, showing the vehicle engulfed in thick flames and black smoke. The video raised initial concerns among travelers, as the burning bus was parked close to an Air India aircraft preparing for ground operations. Airport authorities, however, reassured the public that the fire did not affect flight schedules or airport safety.

Police later confirmed that only the driver was present in the bus at the time of the incident, and he managed to escape unharmed. Investigations are now underway to determine the cause of the Delhi Airport bus fire, with SATS and airport authorities examining the vehicle to identify any technical or mechanical faults.

The Delhi Airport — one of the busiest airports in Asia — has three terminals and four runways, handling more than 100 million passengers annually. Terminal 3, inaugurated in 2010, is among the largest in the world, catering to both domestic and international flights. Despite the scare, DIAL officials confirmed that all operations at Delhi Airport’s Terminal 3 resumed smoothly after the fire was brought under control.

This Delhi Airport bus fire highlights the importance of swift emergency response systems in high-traffic aviation hubs. While the cause is yet to be officially confirmed, authorities have assured that additional safety checks and preventive measures will be carried out to avoid such incidents in the future.

#Global