technical-snag-grounds-thailand-bound-flight-at-kolkata-airport

An international flight of Thai Lion Air bound for Bangkok was grounded at the Kolkata airport late Friday night after developing a mechanical fault just moments before takeoff, leaving passengers stranded for hours and raising renewed concerns over passenger safety on international carriers. The flight was scheduled to take off from Kolkata at 2:35 am on Saturday. Passengers had boarded the aircraft well in advance and the plane had begun taxiing towards the runway. The aircraft came to a sudden halt while preparing to make a turn at the runway.

 

According to passenger accounts, a malfunction in the aircraft’s flap system — a critical component located on the wings responsible for lift and control during takeoff and landing — was the cause of the aborted flight.

 

Shockingly, despite the technical glitch, passengers were not immediately deplaned. Instead, they remained inside the aircraft for nearly three hours under increasingly uncomfortable conditions. Several passengers reported that the air conditioning was non-functional during this time, causing suffocation and panic.

 

Technicians could be seen working on the aircraft’s wing while passengers waited inside. Many captured videos of the maintenance work from their seats, later sharing them on social media to highlight their ordeal.

 

Also read: Kolkata gang-rape: Police recreate crime scene with main accused

 

At approximately 5:30 AM, after hours of uncertainty, airline officials informed passengers that the aircraft had suffered a significant mechanical fault and would not be flying anytime soon. The flight was officially cancelled, and passengers were escorted off the plane and taken to a nearby hotel arranged by the airline.

 

A spokesperson for Thai Lion Air later stated that the aircraft was undergoing repairs and that the same flight was expected to depart for Bangkok at 4:00 am on Sunday.

 

Several passengers have voiced discomfort and hesitation about flying on the same aircraft, citing the mechanical failure and overnight ordeal.

This incident occurred amid growing scrutiny over international flight safety. Just last month, an Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London experienced a severe technical failure and crash-landed shortly after takeoff raising alarms over the condition and maintenance of aircraft on international routes.