A first-person account by a Mumbai-born passenger now based in Switzerland highlights panic during evacuation and alleged mismanagement on the ground.
NEW DELHI: Barely 24 hours after a SWISS Delhi-Zurich flight aborted take-off at IGI Airport following an engine fire, a passenger who was on board has described the evacuation as swift and professional inside the aircraft, but alleged confusion, delays and lack of coordination once passengers were on the ground.Vinod Krishnadas, 41, a Mumbai-based professional now working in Zug, Switzerland, spoke to TOI from Zurich over phone and narrated his ordeal.
Vinod said that he was travelling on flight LX147 on Sunday when the Airbus A330 accelerated for take-off before suddenly coming to a sharp halt.At Indira Gandhi International Airport, authorities declared a “full emergency” following the incident. In a post on X, the airport said all prescribed safety protocols were promptly executed, passengers were safely evacuated, and overall airport operations remained unaffected.
‘Aircraft stopped violently’
“It sounded like a tyre burst. The aircraft braked very hard and things went flying,” he recalled, adding that there was no visible smoke initially, which prevented panic from spreading instantly.Read more: Take-off aborted at 193 kmph: How engine fire triggered chaos aboard SWISS Delhi-Zurich flightVinod said passengers initially did not know an engine had failed and only realised there was a serious issue minutes later. He said he did not see smoke from his window and remained seated based on instructions until cabin crew announced “emergency, evacuate now.”
Door jammed, evacuation rushed
Vinodh said he was seated on OO1 A and evacuation began quickly through door 1L. “I exited through 1L and was among the first to get out,” he said. However, he pointed to a possible issue at another exit.
“Door 1R did not open. The flight attendant tried but couldn’t open it — whether due to a malfunction or panic, I don’t know.”As panic spread, passengers in economy class faced a more chaotic situation.“There was a lot of clamour and some safety protocols were even breached in the rush,” he claimed. Several passengers sustained injuries while using the emergency slides, with reports of fractures and sprains.
Officials confirmed that four passengers were hospitalised and a crew member suffered a minor injury.Despite confusion over a possible fuel spillage, Vinod praised the airline crew. “The Swiss crew did a great job calming people down and distributing water. Everyone was in shock, but they handled it well.”
‘No leadership on ground’
Vinod sharply criticised the response at the airport after evacuation. “There was no ambulance initially, only a fire brigade. We waited for 10-15 minutes for medical help, and nearly 40 minutes on the runway overall,” he said.He said the situation inside the terminal deteriorated further. “There was no proper headcount, no announcements, no leadership. It felt like a headless chicken— people were running around trying to count passengers,” he alleged.
‘40-50 forms for 200+ passengers, only one pen’
Vinod said that the process became increasingly disorganised. “They brought 40–50 contact information cards for over 200 passengers and distributed them randomly. There weren’t enough cards — and there was only one pen,” he said.Communication was another major issue. “There was no announcement system or megaphone. Staff could only communicate with 15–20 people at a time. Counting was being done by just two or three people.”Soon after, another form was introduced, adding to confusion. “People didn’t even know if they were filling the right form. There were 25–30 staff members — all wanting to help, but no training, no drills, no leadership.”He also recounted instances of unprofessional behaviour. “Some junior staff were too engrossed in chit-chat on the spot. I had to ask them to at least help us get a pen.”
‘Hours of confusion’
It took hours before officials began calling out passenger names using a roster, Vinod said.“Even simple process like counting names took 3-4 hours and was confusing. They stopped midway at times.”‘Random snacks, long wait for baggage’Basic refreshments were limited and poorly distributed. “They gave vada pav and tea — that too for maybe 20 people. It was random and not suitable for many international passengers,” he said.Passengers received their baggage only around 6am, and even that took another hour to complete distribution properly.
‘Strangers sharing rooms’
Vinod said passengers were later sent to a hotel in Connaught Place, rather than closer options near the airport. “All passengers were taken to the same hotel. They could have arranged something in Aerocity,” he said.“There was no representative at the hotel to guide us. Two complete strangers were put in the same room — it was very ill-managed.” Passengers reached the hotel around 10am.While the passenger acknowledged the professionalism of the airline crew, he stressed the need for systemic improvements at the airport. “The crew handled the emergency well, but the airport response was completely inadequate,” he said.“I think it’s important that the incompetence of Delhi airport is highlighted so that they can fix it. God forbid if there were an emergency at the terminal, lives could have been lost, they need to be better prepared,” he said.The flight eventually departed the next day, reaching Zurich safely. Meanwhile, authorities continue to investigate what caused the engine failure that forced the aborted take-off.Swiss International Air Lines said in a statement that the incident occurred shortly after 1am on April 26 during the takeoff of flight LX147 in Delhi, when an engine issue forced the crew to abort takeoff and evacuate the aircraft as a precaution. The Airbus A330 (HB-JHK) had 228 passengers, four infants and 13 crew on board.All passengers were assisted, accommodated and rebooked. Four passengers remain hospitalised, while one crew member suffered a minor ankle injury. The airline said a task force has been set up and an investigation is underway, adding that safety remains its top priority.
