New Delhi: Air India flight’s tail section caught fire while landing at the Indira Gandhi International Airport arriving from Hong Kong to New Delhi on Tuesday afternoon. All 158 passengers on board were reported safe, and the aircraft has since been grounded.

According to the airport official, the incident occurred around 12.30 p.m. and smoke was observed emanating from the APU exhaust, which is an opening on the outer portion of the tail. The fire reportedly originated in the Auxiliary Power Unit, a backup power system located in the tail cone of the aircraft.

Flight AI 315 had departed Hong Kong International Airport at 8.59 p.m. (local time) on Monday and arrived at Terminal 3 of the IGI Airport at 12.31 p.m. on Tuesday.

In an official statement, Air India said that the Flight AI 315, operating from Hong Kong to Delhi on 22 July, experienced an APU fire shortly after landing and parking at the gate. The incident occurred while passengers had begun disembarking, and the APU was automatically shut down as per system design. There was some damage to the aircraft; however, passengers and crew members disembarked normally and are safe. The aircraft has been grounded for further investigation and the regulator has been duly informed.

The APU provides electrical power and air-conditioning when the aircraft is on the ground and also serves as a backup power source in the event of main engine failure during flight.