An Air India Dreamliner en route to London was forced to abort takeoff at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Thursday due to a suspected technical issue, the airline confirmed.
Flight AI2017, scheduled to depart for London on July 31, was operated with a Boeing 787-9 aircraft. As the plane began its takeoff run, the cockpit crew detected a potential technical anomaly and decided to return the aircraft to the bay for precautionary checks.
“Following standard operating procedures, the cockpit crew discontinued the takeoff and brought the aircraft back for technical inspection,” an Air India spokesperson said in a statement. The exact nature of the technical fault has not yet been disclosed.
An alternative aircraft is being arranged to operate the flight, the airline added. “Our ground staff is providing all necessary assistance to passengers to minimise inconvenience,” the spokesperson said.
There has been no official word on the number of passengers onboard at the time of the incident.
The latest disruption adds to a string of recent issues involving Air India aircraft. The airline has faced increasing scrutiny from India’s aviation regulator over safety and maintenance protocols.
Earlier this summer, on June 12, another Air India Dreamliner — a Boeing 787-8 operating a flight from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick — tragically crashed into a building shortly after takeoff, killing all 260 people on board. The incident sent shockwaves through the aviation community and led to a full-scale investigation.
As regulators continue to examine Air India’s operational safety, the airline has reiterated its commitment to passenger safety and service continuity.
