A Mumbai-bound Air India Express flight was forced to abort takeoff at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi on Wednesday evening following a minor technical issue in the cockpit.
The aircraft, an Airbus A320 carrying around 160 passengers, encountered a malfunction with screens displaying speed parameters just as it was preparing to depart. Acting out of caution, the pilot elected to halt the takeoff, prioritising passenger safety.
“Safety remains our top priority. Our crew chose to reject takeoff due to a minor cockpit display snag,” an airline spokesperson stated. All passengers were promptly deboarded and re-accommodated in an alternative aircraft that departed for Mumbai later that evening.
The airline also expressed regret over the inconvenience caused, reiterating its commitment to maintaining stringent safety standards.
Interestingly, this incident comes just a day after another Air India Express flight en route to Doha was forced to return to Calicut mid-air due to a separate technical snag. While no injuries were reported in either case, the back-to-back glitches raise questions about maintenance protocols and aircraft readiness.
Aviation authorities are expected to look into the matter, though preliminary assessments suggest standard safety procedures were diligently followed.
