Kochi: Passengers aboard Air India flight AI 504, scheduled to depart from Kochi to Delhi in the early hours of Monday, faced a sudden disruption when the aircraft aborted takeoff due to a technical malfunction and returned to the bay, according to airport authorities.
Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) confirmed that the airline has decided to change the aircraft, with the revised departure time set for 1:00 AM.
“A technical issue led to the Delhi-bound Air India flight aborting takeoff. The airline is addressing the problem and has informed us that a replacement aircraft will be arranged. The new estimated departure time is 01:00 hrs,” a CIAL Public Relations Officer said.
The incident gained public attention after Congress MP Hibi Eden, who was among the passengers, took to social media to share his experience. In a Facebook post, he wrote, “Something unusual with this flight AI 504… it just felt like the flight skidded on the runway… and hasn’t taken off yet…”
Rajya Sabha MP Jebi Mather, also on board, later updated that the pilot had informed passengers the aircraft would not be used for the journey. “Now pilot announced… this aircraft cannot be used for travel. So, will be shifting passengers to another aircraft and approx by 1 am,” she wrote.
No injuries were reported, and all passengers were safely accommodated as Air India arranged for an alternative aircraft.
