Mumbai Airport News: Air India Flight Aborts Take-off After Air India Express Aircraft Remains on Runway
Mumbai Airport News
An Air India flight scheduled to travel from Mumbai to Delhi aborted its take-off on Tuesday night after an Air India Express aircraft was still on the same runway. The incident took place at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and was safely handled following instructions from Air Traffic Control (ATC).
According to aviation sources, the incident occurred at around 9:40 p.m. when Air India flight AI816 entered Runway 27 at Mumbai Airport and began preparing for take-off to Delhi. At the same time, Air India Express flight IX1547, which had arrived from Bagdogra (Siliguri), had just landed on the same runway and had not yet vacated it.
As the Air India aircraft started its take-off roll, the Air Traffic Control noticed that the runway was not completely clear. ATC immediately instructed the Air India pilots to stop the take-off. The flight crew followed the instruction, safely discontinued the take-off run, and returned the aircraft to the parking bay.
An Air India spokesperson confirmed the incident in an official statement. The airline said that the crew of flight AI816 discontinued the take-off after receiving instructions from Air Traffic Control. The spokesperson added that the aircraft would undergo all mandatory safety inspections according to standard operating procedures before being cleared to fly again.
The airline also assured passengers that alternative arrangements were being made to help them reach their destination as quickly as possible. Passenger safety remained the airline’s highest priority throughout the incident.
According to sources, Air India flight AI816 was being operated using a Boeing 777-300ER, a wide-body aircraft commonly used on busy domestic and international routes. Meanwhile, Air India Express flight IX1547 was operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8, which had just completed its flight from Bagdogra to Mumbai.
Although both aircraft were on the same runway at nearly the same time, the prompt action by Air Traffic Control and the flight crew prevented any accident. The incident highlights the importance of constant coordination between pilots and air traffic controllers, especially at busy airports like Mumbai, where aircraft movements take place throughout the day.
Every airport follows strict safety procedures to ensure that only one aircraft occupies a runway during take-off or landing. If there is any possibility of conflict, air traffic controllers can immediately instruct pilots to reject or abort take-off. Pilots are trained regularly to handle such situations safely.
After the aircraft returned to the bay, engineers and maintenance teams were expected to inspect the aircraft’s braking system and other critical components. Such inspections are mandatory whenever a take-off is aborted, particularly if the aircraft had already begun accelerating on the runway.
The incident may have caused delays for passengers on the Delhi-bound flight, but aviation experts note that rejecting a take-off is a standard safety procedure whenever there is any risk on the runway. Safety always takes priority over maintaining the flight schedule.
Airport operations continued after the runway became clear, and normal flight movements resumed. Authorities have not reported any injuries or damage to either aircraft.
The incident serves as a reminder of the multiple layers of safety built into modern aviation. Continuous monitoring by Air Traffic Control, quick communication with pilots, and strict operating procedures help prevent accidents even during unexpected situations. Investigations and routine reviews may be carried out to understand the sequence of events and ensure that similar incidents are avoided in the future.
Ajeet Yadav is an aviation enthusiast covering airline news, airports, aircraft, and industry developments through well-researched and reliable reporting.
