An incident involving an Etihad Boeing 777 at Delhi Airport appears to have been caused by a fire on a pushback tractor rather than on the aircraft itself. According to source reports, the tractor caught fire while pushing back Etihad cargo flight EY215 early on 14 March, resulting in flames and smoke beneath the aircraft’s nose. Sources cited by Outlook Business said the fire was quickly extinguished, there was no damage to the aircraft, airport operations were not affected, and the freighter later departed for its destination.
Because public reporting remains limited and much of the early circulation came through social media and aviation-watch accounts, the event should be described cautiously. Even so, it stands out as a notable ground-handling incident: from the ramp, it appeared as though the aircraft itself was on fire, but the preliminary account indicates the problem originated with the tow vehicle beneath the nose rather than with the Boeing 777.
Image: @justflyingX