New Delhi, July 31 —
Air India Flight to London Aborts Takeoff Due to Technical Glitch
A scheduled Air India flight from Delhi to London was forced to abort its takeoff on Thursday morning after the cockpit crew detected a suspected technical issue. The aircraft, operating under flight number AI2017, was on the runway at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport when the pilots decided to halt the departure and return the plane to the bay for further checks.
According to a statement from Air India, the flight crew followed all standard safety protocols upon identifying the potential fault. “The flight, which was preparing for departure from Delhi to London, was brought back to the bay after a suspected technical issue was noticed during pre-takeoff checks,” the airline confirmed.
The airline further stated that a replacement aircraft is being arranged to transport the affected passengers to London at the earliest possible time. “An alternative aircraft is being deployed to fly the passengers to London at the earliest,” the official communication noted.
While the airline has not disclosed the exact nature of the technical snag, it assured that the safety of passengers and crew remains its highest priority. “Our ground staff is extending all support and care to the guests to minimise inconvenience caused due to this unexpected delay. At Air India, the safety and wellbeing of our passengers remain the top priority,” the airline added.
Passengers were disembarked safely and taken back to the terminal. Some were reportedly provided refreshments and assistance while waiting for updates on their revised travel arrangements.
DGCA Flags Air India for Maintenance Oversight
The incident adds to a growing list of recent concerns surrounding Air India’s operational safety. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India’s aviation regulator, has initiated enforcement action against the airline after discovering maintenance lapses during a routine audit.
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol, in a written response to a query in the Rajya Sabha, revealed that an emergency slide inspection on one of Air India’s aircraft was found to be overdue during the DGCA’s review. “DGCA immediately grounded the aircraft till the required rectification was carried out,” the minister said.
The aviation regulator has since launched enforcement action against both the airline and the personnel responsible for the lapse, in accordance with its Enforcement Policy and Procedure Manual. However, the specific dates of the audit and when the enforcement action began were not disclosed in the statement.
The discovery comes amid increased scrutiny of Air India’s operations. In recent months, the airline has experienced multiple safety-related incidents that have drawn public and regulatory attention.
Previous Safety Incidents Raise Questions
In another alarming event earlier this year, an Air India flight bound for London Gatwick tragically crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12. The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8, struck a building and resulted in the death of all 260 individuals on board. Though investigations are ongoing, the incident raised serious concerns about aircraft maintenance and operational oversight.
Additionally, a separate Air India flight was recently forced to make an emergency landing in Phuket, Thailand, after a passenger discovered a bomb threat note onboard. That incident, while ultimately determined to be a hoax, underscored the challenges facing the airline’s security protocols.
Outlook and Passenger Confidence
The recent episode at IGI Airport, though resolved without any injuries or major disruption, adds to the growing scrutiny faced by Air India. While the airline maintains that safety is its primary concern, continued technical irregularities and maintenance oversights threaten to erode passenger confidence.
As the airline prepares to transition under the Tata Group’s long-term strategic vision, ensuring regulatory compliance and strengthening maintenance checks will be critical to rebuilding its global reputation. For now, the focus remains on ensuring the safe and timely departure of the AI2017 passengers and addressing the root cause of Thursday’s technical issue.
