AI flight with Pak High Commission cancelled due to technical glitch

A New Delhi-bound Air India (AI) flight from Kolkata, with Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit on-board among other passengers, was cancelled on Sunday due to a technical snag, AI officials said.

A New Delhi-bound Air India (AI) flight from Kolkata, with Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit on-board among other passengers, was cancelled on Sunday due to a technical snag, AI officials said.

A New Delhi-bound Air India (AI) flight from Kolkata, with Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit on-board among other passengers, was cancelled on Sunday due to a technical snag, AI officials said. (Prasad Gori/ Hindustan Times)

“The New Delhi-bound flight was ready for take off from Kolkata and while pushing back the aircraft from the parking bay, the pilot noticed a technical problem and informed the ground staff,” the AI spokesperson here said.

“Engineers examined the aircraft thoroughly, but the snag could not be rectified and the aircraft was declared unfit to fly,” he said.

All 237 passengers were de-boarded and 50 of them including Basit were accommodated in another subsequent flight to Delhi, the spokesperson said, adding, the rest of the passengers would be accommodated in another flight on Monday morning.