Another Safety Alarm For Air India! Inside The Fire, The Fear, And The Fixes Needed

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Flight AI 315, arriving from Hong Kong to Delhi on July 22, 2025, experienced a fire in its auxiliary power unit (APU) just after parking at the gate. Thankfully, all 170 passengers and crew disembarked safely. But while no lives were at risk, the incident has once again brought aviation maintenance and safety practices into the spotlight especially when it comes to India's flagship airline.

What Is An APU And Why Does It Matter?

The APU isn't something passengers usually think about. It's a small jet engine-usually tucked into the tail of the aircraft that helps power essential systems when the main engines are off. Think cabin lights, air conditioning, and electrical systems during boarding or disembarkation. On the ground, the APU keeps things running when the aircraft isn't connected to airport equipment.

In this case, the fire started just as passengers were leaving. The system automatically shut down, and onboard sensors likely kicked in to stop the damage from spreading. The aircraft has since been grounded for a detailed investigation.

This Isn't The First Time

While rare, APU-related fires have happened before both in India and abroad. In 2016, a similar incident at London's Heathrow filled a cabin with smoke. In 2013, Air France had to evacuate passengers at Paris after smoke appeared during boarding.

Closer to home, Air India has had a run of troubling incidents lately. Just a day before the APU fire, another Air India aircraft skidded off a runway in Mumbai during heavy rain. And in the last six months, the airline has received multiple warnings from aviation authorities over safety and maintenance practices.

How Are Fires Like These Handled?

Airplanes are built with layered protection systems for fires especially in sensitive areas like the APU. Here's how it typically works:

• Sensors detect abnormal heat or smoke.
• The APU automatically shuts down.
• An onboard extinguisher releases a chemical agent to control the fire.
• Meanwhile, the cockpit and ground crew are alerted for checks and further action.

On paper, it sounds well managed and in this case, it was. But any fire, even one that's contained, deserves closer attention.

What Needs To Change

Here's the part that's often overlooked: technology worked as it should, but why did the fire start in the first place? Aviation experts often point to the need for stricter checks on smaller components like the APU, which can get sidelined in routine maintenance.

Industry insiders also believe airlines sometimes stretch schedules or budgets, especially under pressure to meet tight turnaround times. That's not a passenger's problem-until it becomes one. Stronger enforcement, regular audits, and staff training can help address these gaps.

What Passengers Should Know

As a traveller, it's easy to feel helpless once you're inside an aircraft. But it helps to be informed. Some practical things to keep in mind:

• Pay attention to safety briefings, even if they sound repetitive.
• If you see smoke or smell something odd, inform the crew immediately.
• During any technical delay or evacuation, follow instructions without panic-airline staff are trained for emergencies.

Photo Credit: X@ANI

It's also worth choosing airlines with strong safety records-check their performance with India's DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation), which makes this information publicly available.

The recent APU fire on Air India's flight didn't cause harm but it did send a message. Passengers may not understand aircraft parts or mechanical logs, but they do notice patterns. And lately, Air India has found itself too often in the news for the wrong reasons.

Fixing this isn't about press releases or social media reassurance. It's about ensuring that every part of the plane not just the visible ones gets the care it needs. After all, in the sky, there are no shortcuts.