Back-to-back Air India scares: Flight aborts take-off in Delhi hours after Mumbai runway mishap

In yet another mid-air scare narrowly averted, an Air India flight from Delhi to Kolkata aborted take-off at the last moment on July 21 after the cockpit crew detected a technical snag during the critical take-off roll. The aircraft, carrying 160 passengers, was immediately brought to a halt at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport as safety protocols kicked in.

Air India Flight AI 2403, which was scheduled to depart on July 21, was grounded for thorough checks following the incident. “The cockpit crew decided to discontinue the take-off in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures,” an airline spokesperson confirmed, assuring that all passengers were safely disembarked and are being assisted by ground staff.

The flight was rescheduled for later in the evening.

The Delhi scare came just hours after another Air India incident in Mumbai, where Flight AI 2744 arriving from Kochi skidded off the rain-slicked runway at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport early July 21. The Airbus A320 aircraft reportedly suffered partial damage to one of its engines following the “runway excursion” amid intense rainfall.

While no injuries have been reported in either incident, the back-to-back occurrences have raised serious questions about operational readiness and aircraft maintenance at India’s national carrier.

Air India, now owned by the Tata Group, has faced increasing scrutiny over flight safety and service quality in recent months, even as it undergoes a sweeping transformation to reclaim its global standing.