A series of recent incidents involving aircraft malfunctions across India has caused disruptions for travelers. The latest case occurred with Air India flight AI 504, bound from Kochi to Delhi. The flight was canceled due to a technical fault, adding to a pattern of flight delays and cancellations. Among the passengers affected was Member of Parliament Hibi Eden.
Airport officials and Air India confirmed the technical problem. According to a representative from Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), the issue arose during the takeoff roll. The pilot promptly halted the aircraft and returned it to the parking area, adhering to established safety protocols.
Engineers examined the aircraft after the incident and deemed it unfit for flight, prompting the cancellation of the Air India service.
Lok Sabha MP Hibi Eden, who was on board, detailed his experience on X, formerly Twitter. He described an unusual situation where it felt as if the plane had skidded on the runway before failing to take off. Air India canceled AI 504 and scheduled a replacement flight for 1 a.m., which had yet to begin boarding. He added that this was the third flight of the day to be grounded. Eden noted the extended waiting period following the cancellation.
Rajya Sabha MP J.B. Mathar, also a passenger, mentioned the pilot’s announcement that the aircraft was not ready for takeoff. Mathar shared that the pilot informed passengers they would be moved to another aircraft, which caused considerable frustration until around 1 a.m.
Air India issued an apology for the inconvenience caused by the cancellation. The airline confirmed that all passengers were safely disembarked and were receiving assistance from ground staff. The number of passengers on the flight has not been made public.