Air India Plagued by Multiple Safety Incidents in 24 Hours

• Two Air India flights faced safety incidents on July 21, 2025: a Delhi-Kolkata flight (AI2403) aborted take-off at 155 km/h due to a technical issue, and a Kochi-Mumbai flight (AI2744) veered off the runway during landing.
• These incidents follow the fatal crash of Air India Flight AI171 last month, which killed 260 people.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 22nd July: Air India is under intense scrutiny following a series of alarming safety incidents within a 24-hour period, adding to concerns already heightened by a recent fatal crash. On Monday, July 21, a Delhi-Kolkata flight aborted its take-off at high speed, while a separate flight in Mumbai veered off a rain-soaked runway during landing. These incidents unfold amidst parliamentary revelations of multiple safety violations by the airline in recent months.

Delhi Take-off Aborted at 155 km/h
Flight AI2403, scheduled to depart from Delhi to Kolkata at 5:30 pm on July 21, was accelerating down the runway at 155 km per hour when its pilots detected a technical issue. Following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), the cockpit crew applied brakes to halt the aircraft, successfully aborting the take-off. Air India confirmed the rescheduling of the flight, stating, “Flight AI2403 operating from Delhi to Kolkata on 21 July 2025 has been rescheduled to depart later this evening, necessitated by a technical issue detected during the take-off roll. The cockpit crew decided to discontinue the take-off, following Standard Operating Procedures.” All passengers were safely disembarked, and the airline expressed regret for the inconvenience, reaffirming passenger safety as a top priority.

Mumbai Landing Scare and Runway Damage
Earlier the same day in Mumbai, an Air India flight arriving from Kochi (AI2744) experienced a close shave during landing. The aircraft veered off the primary runway amid heavy rainfall. Pictures show a clump of grass stuck to the rear of the aircraft and signs of damage on one of its engines, with the runway also sustaining damage. Airport authorities confirmed all passengers aboard were safe. Government sources indicated that one wheel of the aircraft went into the grassy area beside the runway, resulting in broken signage boards and runway edge lights. The aircraft has been grounded for inspection, and the two pilots have been derostered pending an inquiry.

Recent Safety Scrutiny and Past Violations
These incidents cast a shadow over Air India’s safety record, which has been under increased scrutiny since the tragic Air India Flight AI171 crash last month. That flight, from Ahmedabad to London, crashed shortly after take-off on June 12, killing 260 people, including 241 passengers, with only one survivor. The devastating accident has led to more exhaustive checks across the airline’s fleet.

Further compounding concerns, the Civil Aviation Ministry informed the Rajya Sabha on July 21 that nine show cause notices have been issued to Air India in connection with five identified safety violations over the last six months. Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol, responding to queries, stated that while no adverse trend was reported in reliability reports of the crashed aircraft, these notices reflect ongoing safety concerns within the airline’s operations. Enforcement action has been completed in one of these violation cases.