An Air India flight bound for London aborted its takeoff at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) on Thursday, July 31, 2025, due to a suspected technical issue. The cockpit crew of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner decided to discontinue the takeoff run following standard operating procedures, according to an Air India spokesperson. The aircraft then returned to the bay for precautionary checks.

Flight AI2017, which was scheduled to depart at 4:45 PM but was delayed by one and a half hours, began its takeoff run around 6:10 PM. As the aircraft gained momentum, the pilots detected a technical flaw and initiated an emergency stop. The sudden braking caused panic among the passengers and crew, but the situation was quickly brought under control. All passengers were safely deplaned and taken back to the terminal.

Air India has arranged for an alternative aircraft to fly the passengers to London and stated that ground staff are assisting affected passengers to minimize inconvenience. The airline reiterated that the safety of its passengers is their highest priority.

The specific nature of the technical issue has not been disclosed. This incident adds to the growing concerns surrounding Boeing aircraft safety, particularly the 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner series. In January 2024, a door plug panel on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 blew off mid-flight, leading to an emergency landing. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily grounded dozens of MAX 9 aircraft and launched investigations into Boeing's manufacturing and quality control processes. In March 2024, the FAA ordered Boeing to halt further expansion of its 737 production lines until the company addressed widespread quality lapses. Earlier in July 2025, reports emerged of missing or improperly installed bolts on Boeing 787 Dreamliners, prompting airlines and regulators to reexamine aircraft undergoing maintenance or awaiting delivery.

The aborted takeoff occurred weeks after a devastating crash of an Air India flight from India to the UK that killed all but one of the 242 people on board. Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. The plane plummeted into a medical college campus, killing 241 people. A British man was the sole survivor.

In light of these recent events, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India has reportedly increased its scrutiny of Boeing aircraft. This incident also raises questions about Air India's maintenance and operational standards.