An Air India flight from San Francisco to Mumbai via Kolkata was halted at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata early Tuesday morning, June 17, after a technical snag was detected in one of its engines.
The flight, AI-180, landed in Kolkata at around 12.45 a.m. and was scheduled to take off for Mumbai at 2 a.m., with an expected arrival at Mumbai airport at 4.50 a.m.
However, the aircraft was unable to depart from Kolkata on schedule due to the engine-related technical issue. At approximately 5.20 a.m., the captain of the flight requested all passengers to disembark, informing them that the step was being taken in the interest of safety.
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After the passengers exited the aircraft, it was moved to the airport tarmac where the airline’s technical and ground staff began inspecting the engine to identify and resolve the problem.
All passengers on board the flight were reported to be safe. As of the latest available update, flight AI-180 remains at Kolkata Airport undergoing technical evaluation. Efforts are underway to arrange an alternative flight for the affected passengers.
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This incident comes after a series of technical issues involving Air India and its subsidiary. On June 12, an Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick Airport crashed shortly after take-off, colliding with a doctors’ hostel and resulting in the death of all but one passenger.
Earlier this week, Air India Express flight IX 1511 was delayed at Hindon Airport in Uttar Pradesh due to a fault detected before take-off. The issue was discovered while the pilot was preparing for departure, keeping the aircraft on the runway for nearly an hour before it finally took off.
The latest episode involving flight AI-180 adds to the recent technical concerns that have surfaced across multiple Air India flights.
