LONDON- Air India (AI) 787-9 Flight AI162, bound for Delhi (DEL), abort takeoff and returned to the gate from the taxiway on September 21, 2025, after a passenger failed to board despite scanning their pass. This incident, underscores the airline’s commitment to security amid operational pressures.
The crew discovered the absence during taxiing, triggering an immediate reversal to offload unchecked baggage and comply with international protocols. Passengers endured an additional delay, but the move prevented potential risks on the 9 hour journey.
Photo: Utkarsh Thakkar (Vimanspotter)Air India 787 Abort Takeoff
Flight AI162 departed its gate late Sunday evening, already 45 minutes behind schedule due to earlier ground issues. As the Boeing 787-9 aircraft began taxiing toward the runway at London Heathrow (LHR), the flight crew cross-checked manifests and realized one traveler remained missing.
The passenger had scanned their boarding pass at the gate, marking them as onboard in the system. However, they mistakenly headed to the arrivals area instead of boarding the jet bridge.
Airport security quickly located and detained the individual for questioning, ensuring no broader threats existed.
Air India (AI) emphasized that crews train rigorously for such scenarios. The return allowed ground teams to swiftly remove the passenger’s checked luggage from the hold, a mandatory step under International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidelines.
These rules exist to counter risks like unattended bags, which could harbor hazards if linked to absent travelers.
Once cleared, the flight pushed back again and departed for Delhi (DEL) with a total delay of about 90 minutes. Onboard counts hovered around 200 passengers, though exact figures stayed unconfirmed at press time.
The airline provided updates via announcements and later issued a statement regretting the inconvenience while praising crew adherence to procedure.
This event highlights broader challenges in high-volume hubs like Heathrow (LHR), where over 80 million passengers pass annually.
Boarding scans rely on human vigilance, but errors persist despite tech upgrades like biometric gates. Air India continues fleet-wide training to minimize repeats, aligning with its post-merger push for reliability.
Photo: Harsh Tekriwal AvgeekwithLens, Go Follow him on its social mediaSimilar Incident
Just 11 days prior, on September 10, 2025, Air India (AI) Flight AI 2380 from Delhi (DEL) to Singapore (SIN) stranded over 200 passengers for nearly 6 hours due to a cabin cooling and electrical fault on its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
Boarded around 11 PM, travelers endured two hours of sweltering heat inside the aircraft, with air conditioning offline and cabin power flickering. Videos captured passengers fanning themselves with onboard materials, amplifying discomfort in the humid Delhi night.
Crew deplaned everyone per safety norms, as prolonged ground exposure without cooling violates cabin air standards. Open doors, required for ventilation, worsened the issue by delaying internal chill-down.
Air India (AI) confirmed the “cabin cooling issue on ground prior to departure,” citing electrical glitches.
Back in the terminal, staff distributed food, water, and updates hourly. The flight departed around 5 AM, turning a midnight hop into an all-nighter.
This technical snag echoes rising concerns over aging Dreamliner fleets, with Air India (AI) pledging deeper maintenance checks to prevent repeats.
Photo: DnataSecurity and Operational Standards
Incidents like the London Heathrow (LHR) return and the Delhi (DEL) to Singapore (SIN) delay highlight the strict compliance measures in place for passenger safety.
Airlines are required to offload baggage of absent travelers to prevent risks, and technical checks are mandatory before departure.
While such delays inconvenience passengers, they reflect the aviation sector’s priority on safety and regulatory compliance over punctuality.
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