An Etihad Airways flight bound for Abu Dhabi from Chennai was cancelled on Tuesday after a technical problem was detected before takeoff.
The aircraft, an Airbus A320 carrying around 280 passengers, was preparing for departure when engineers identified a hydraulic leak, prompting officials to declare the aircraft “Aircraft on Ground” (AOG), meaning it was not fit for operation, as per India Today. According to reports, passengers were safely deboarded, and the aircraft was later towed back to the parking stand for inspection and maintenance. No injuries were reported in the incident.
Initial reports had suggested that a fire or smoke was noticed on the aircraft's left wing during takeoff preparations, causing concern among passengers and airport staff. Fire and rescue services were immediately alerted and responded quickly to the situation. In a statement to Gulf News, airline representatives clarified that the aircraft taxied back prior to takeoff following a technical issue, emphasizing that there was no fire on board.
Explaining the delay, Etihad Airways said flight EY343 from Chennai to Abu Dhabi had returned to the gate before passengers disembarked. The airline added that emergency services were deployed purely as a precaution under Chennai airport safety protocols.
Etihad further stated that the flight was expected to depart approximately three hours behind schedule and apologized to passengers for the inconvenience caused. The airline also said its staff were assisting travelers with onward journey arrangements and advised passengers to update their contact details through the Etihad website in order to receive flight status notifications via SMS or email.
Beyond its Chennai operations, the airline has bolstered its presence in India by introducing twice-daily Airbus A321LR flights to both Mumbai and New Delhi. These flights complement the existing double-daily wide-body services connecting Abu Dhabi to these major hubs.
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