CHENNAI, 12 August 2025 – A Malaysian-origin international cargo flight made a tense but safe landing at Chennai International Airport on Tuesday after one of its engines caught fire during its approach.
The aircraft, en route from Kuala Lumpur, experienced the fire in its fourth engine as it prepared to land. Alerted to the emergency, air traffic controllers and emergency teams at the Chennai airport were immediately placed on standby.
Despite the critical situation, the pilots managed to land the aircraft safely without the need for an emergency landing declaration. Upon touchdown, airport fire tenders quickly responded, extinguishing the blaze before it could cause further damage.
“There were no injuries reported, and all safety protocols were followed effectively,” official sources told the media. The fire was brought under control shortly after the aircraft came to a halt on the runway.
Investigation Underway
Airport authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the engine fire. The aircraft remains grounded while inspection and maintenance checks are carried out.
The identity of the cargo operator has not yet been disclosed, and further details about the type of cargo onboard have not been made public.
Flights in and out of Chennai Airport remained unaffected, with operations continuing as normal following the incident.
This is the second such reported engine-related alert involving a cargo plane in India in recent months, prompting renewed discussions on maintenance standards and safety checks for ageing aircraft in commercial cargo fleets.
Aviation experts have praised the swift response by both the flight crew and emergency teams on the ground, which helped avert what could have been a major disaster.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is expected to release a preliminary report on the incident in the coming days.