An unusual incident occurred on November 25, 2024, at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. A Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 began rolling backwards uncontrollably after arriving from Singapore, attracting worldwide attention. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, but the incident raises questions about safety protocols and human error in aviation.
The Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger aircraft, had arrived at its parking position after a flight of around five hours from Singapore to New Delhi. Before the ground crew could even put the wheel chocks in place, the aircraft began to move backwards. According to reports, the crew had not activated the parking brake correctly, which caused it to roll. The slightly sloping parking bay intensified the effect. Only after the crew applied the brake did the aircraft come to a stop and was finally pulled into the correct position by a tug.
Singapore Airlines released an official statement stressing that the safety of passengers and crew is its top priority. The airline apologized to the affected passengers while being transparent about the incident. All passengers were able to disembark the aircraft as planned and the injured crew member, who suffered a minor bruise, was able to continue on duty.
It is standard aviation practice for the crew to check the hydraulic braking systems and activate the parking brake after parking an aircraft. At the same time, wheel chocks are placed by ground staff to prevent unexpected rolling. The incident highlights the importance of strictly adhering to these protocols, especially for aircraft of this size
Aviation experts see the incident as the result of a rare but critical human error. The Airbus A380 aircraft model, known for its technical sophistication, has numerous safety mechanisms. Nevertheless, the correct operation of these systems remains crucial. The Indira Gandhi International Airport is known as a busy hub airport and already has experience with wide-body aircraft such as the A380. It remains to be seen whether the Indian authorities or the airline will take internal action.
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