FRANKFURT- A Singapore Airlines (SQ) flight departing Frankfurt Airport (FRA) was delayed after a fire broke out in a Ground Power Unit (GPU) connected to the aircraft. The affected flight, SQ325, operated by an Airbus A380 registered 9V-SKS, was en route to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN).
The incident caused a delay of over 40 minutes. Flight SQ325 eventually departed FRA at 10:24 PM local time and is scheduled to arrive at SIN at 4:23 PM local time on July 2, 2025.
Photo: By tjdarmstadt – IMG_9349.jpg, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61529942Singapore A380 GPU Fire
The fire occurred in the GPU, a ground-based unit used to provide electrical power to the aircraft when engines are shut down. The GPU plays a critical role in supporting systems like cockpit displays, cabin air conditioning, lighting, and avionics during pre-departure procedures.
The Airbus A380 was stationary on the tarmac when the GPU reportedly caught fire. Ground staff responded promptly, and no injuries were reported.
The fire was extinguished quickly, but operational checks and safety protocols resulted in the delay of SQ325’s departure, flagged HavaSosyalMedya.
Singapur Havayolları’nın #SQ325 Frankfurt – Singapur seferini yapan 9V-SKS tescilli A380 tipi uçağa bağlı olan Ground Power Unit(GPU) alev aldı. Olay sebebiyle uçakta operasyonun durdurulduğu belirtildi.
GPU Nedir
Ground Power Unit (GPU), yani yer destek güç ünitesi,… pic.twitter.com/zef3UMmxkj
— HavaSosyalMedya (@HavaSosyalMedya) July 2, 2025
Singapore Airlines flight was safe to continue after technical assessments. The aircraft took off without further issues and is expected to complete its journey to Singapore on schedule, barring any additional delays.
Photo: By Toshi Aoki – JP Spotters – Gallery page http://www.airliners.net/photo/Singapore-Airlines/Airbus-A380-841/1677316/LPhoto http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/6/1/3/1677316.jpg, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27377596What Is a Ground Power Unit (GPU)?
A Ground Power Unit is an external power source used to deliver electricity to an aircraft on the ground. This equipment is essential when the aircraft’s Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) is turned off or not operating.
The GPU allows ground crews to prepare the aircraft for boarding, power systems for maintenance, and operate essential internal functions without starting the engines.
In modern commercial operations, GPUs are routinely used for efficiency and fuel savings. However, technical faults or overheating can lead to fire hazards, especially when servicing high-demand aircraft like the Airbus A380.
Photo: Cado PhotoSimilar Incidents
A United Airlines (UA) Boeing 777 preparing for departure from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) experienced an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) fire on November 6, 2024.
The aircraft was scheduled to operate United Flight 534 from San Francisco (SFO) to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) when the incident occurred during pushback from Terminal 2, Gate 6.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (ASIAS) system, the fire originated in the aircraft’s APU, a small engine typically mounted in the tail section. The APU provides power to start the main engines and serves as a secondary power source if needed during flight.
The fire was detected during pushback from the gate. Ground crews acted swiftly, and all passengers were safely disembarked from the aircraft as a precautionary measure. Emergency responders ensured the situation was under control, and no injuries were reported either on board or on the ground.
A United Airlines (UA) spokesperson, Erin, confirmed the nature of the incident, clarifying that the issue was related to a generator. “United Flight 534 returned to the gate to address an issue with a generator. We fixed it, and the flight continued to Chicago,” the airline stated.
After maintenance teams resolved the issue, passengers were reboarded and the Boeing 777 resumed its scheduled journey to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
Photo: Emma HinesGround Equipment Fire Disrupts Air Canada 777 at YUL
An Air Canada (AC) Boeing 777 faced a ground emergency on July 9, 2023, when a water service truck caught fire beneath the aircraft at Montreal-Trudeau Airport (YUL).
Emergency crews, including approximately 20 Montreal firefighters, swiftly responded and extinguished the blaze without injury or impact to flight operations.
The fire broke out at around 3:25 p.m. under an Air Canada (AC) Boeing 777, which had just arrived from Geneva. The source of the fire was identified as the engine compartment of a water truck positioned beneath the aircraft.
Images taken shortly after the incident showed soot marks near the aircraft’s rear fuselage, indicating the proximity and intensity of the flames. The aircraft remains grounded for a full maintenance inspection.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News
Emirates Flight with 777-300ER at Chennai Reported the Smoke from APU
The post Singapore Airlines A380 GPU Caught Fire at Frankfurt Airport appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
