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Air India Delhi-London Flight Aborts Takeoff After Technical Glitch, Sparks Safety Concerns

Today at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), a difficult situation developed as Air India flight AI2017 to London suddenly stopped taking off a moment before it was supposed to. Witnesses spoke of loud braking noises as the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner shut down on its feet almost in frightful realization, leaving around 200 passengers shaken but unharmed. 

Three scares have come upon Air India this month, the last occasion being due to a technical issue in the cockpit. This further advances safety doubts regarding the airline's safety procedures, especially as they had just recently undergone huge changes post-privatization earlier this year.

The Incident: A Split-Second Decision

At approximately 11:45 AM IST, the cockpit crew of AI2017 discovered irregularities in the aircraft's systems during the takeoff roll. The pilots then dutifully terminated the thrust and safely initiated an emergency stop by rigid Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), whose correct and proper application had been overstrained in the prevailing situation. "I can confirm that aborting takeoff was simply a precaution," declared an Air India spokesperson. "It met every stage and standard procedure with no immediate danger to the traveling public."

While initial observations have a fault relating to inconsistency between the aircraft's sensors, the specifics of the fault are still being investigated. "A rejected takeoff at such speed is safer than malfunctioning in the air, if you're confronted with that option," explained retired pilot Capt. Rohan Nair.

Passenger Experience: Confusion and Relief

Passengers felt confusion and relief when the aircraft taxied back to the bay. "This sudden sort of shift, the engines cut out; we felt calmness on the crew, but it was unsettling," said Priya Mehta, a business traveler. Ground staff continued to provide refreshments and rebooking options, with an alternate aircraft being considered for departure to London by 3:30 PM IST.

The reaction from the airline was thus consistent with the stated commitment towards passenger safety after the DGCA released an audit on 51 operational shortcomings, including crew training and maintenance checks.

Bigger Picture: Air India’s Safety Issues

Today's episode is one more in a string of technical incidents with Air India in July 2025:

  • 21st July: Delhi-Kolkata flight AI2403 aborted takeoff due to a high-speed anomaly.
  • 23rd July: Stock Air India Express flight to Mumbai IX1163 was grounded because of glitches in the cockpit screens.

The DGCA has also flagged that the aircraft needs to be assessed in detail, and their findings should take no more than 48 hours.

Passenger Safety and Air India's Future Under Tata

Air India's prompt response to today's aborted takeoff underscores the extremely narrow margin for error within the airline industry. Stakeholders will be watching to see if anything has improved, systemic or otherwise, as Air India undertakes a transformation under the leadership of the Tata Group. Meanwhile, passengers on Air India AI 2017 can feel confident about their safety, as it was not a topic of discussion in today's story. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been investigating Air India for several violations.