At 155 kmph, Air India pilots abort take-off on Delhi-Kolkata flight

New Delhi: Air India passengers had a harrowing experience on Monday evening when Flight AI2403 from Delhi to Kolkata abruptly aborted its take-off after a technical glitch was detected just as the aircraft was speeding down the runway at 155 km per hour.

The pilots acted decisively, slamming the brakes and bringing the plane to a halt before it could lift off, averting what could have become a major mishap. The aircraft had begun its take-off roll around 5:30 pm when the technical problem surfaced, prompting the crew to follow established safety protocols and halt the flight.

In a statement, Air India confirmed the incident: “Flight AI2403 operating from Delhi to Kolkata on 21 July 2025 has been rescheduled to depart later this evening, necessitated by a technical issue detected during the take-off roll. The cockpit crew decided to discontinue the take-off, following Standard Operating Procedures.”

All passengers were safely deboarded and are being assisted by ground staff in Delhi. “Inconvenience caused to the passengers due to this unforeseen disruption is sincerely regretted. At Air India, the safety and wellbeing of our passengers remain top priority,” the airline said.

Second incident for Air India in a single day

This wasn’t the only scare for Air India on Monday. Earlier in Mumbai, another Air India aircraft arriving from Kochi skidded off the wet runway while landing. Pictures accessed by NDTV showed clumps of grass wedged in the plane’s undercarriage and visible marks on one of the engines, while the runway itself sustained damage to signage and lights.

Airport officials confirmed that all passengers escaped unhurt, but said the aircraft had veered onto the grassy edge of the runway during landing. The aircraft has since been grounded for inspection, and both pilots have been taken off roster pending an investigation.

Last month, Air India suffered a devastating tragedy when flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London crashed just after take-off, killing 260 people. The disaster, which left only one survivor, sparked nationwide soul-searching and triggered a spate of urgent safety checks across the airline’s fleet.