An Etihad Airways flight scheduled from Chennai to Abu Dhabi was canceled on Tuesday due to a technical problem discovered just before takeoff. The Airbus A320, operating as flight EY343, had approximately 280 passengers on board when a hydraulic leak was detected during pre-takeoff checks. As a result, the aircraft was deemed “Aircraft on Ground” (AOG), necessitating further inspection and repairs before it could resume operations.
Passengers were safely evacuated, and the plane was later moved back to the parking area for maintenance assessment. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported during the incident. Initial concerns arose when smoke or fire indications were observed near the aircraft’s left wing as it was getting ready for takeoff. In response, fire and rescue services were promptly dispatched as a precautionary measure.
However, Etihad Airways clarified that there was no fire onboard the aircraft. The airline explained that the plane returned to the gate following a technical issue before departure. Emergency services at Chennai airport acted in line with safety protocols, emphasizing that their response was purely precautionary.
Etihad Airways managed the disruption by having flight EY343 return to the gate for passengers to disembark safely. The airline anticipated a delay of approximately three hours for the flight’s departure and expressed regret for any inconvenience caused to passengers. Staff members were on hand to assist travelers with alternative travel arrangements, advising passengers to update their contact details on the airline’s website for timely flight notifications via SMS and email.
The airline recently expanded its services by introducing twice-daily Airbus A321LR flights to Mumbai and New Delhi, complementing its existing double-daily wide-body operations on these routes.
