Thai Lion Air flight cancelled in Kolkata due to flap snag

A Thai Lion Air flight from Kolkata to Bangkok was cancelled after the aircraft developed a flap-related snag before take-off. All 130 passengers were accommodated in hotels. Safety concerns prompted the cancellation

Kolkata: A Thai Lion Air flight to Bangkok from Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport was cancelled early Saturday due to a “technical snag”, officials said. The flight with 130 passengers and seven crew on board returned to the parking bay after it was pushed back for taxing to the runway due to a “technical snag”, officials said. Later, the flight was cancelled for the day.

According to Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials at the airport the aircraft landed at Kolkata around 1.23 am on Saturday and was supposed to take off at 2.35 am for travelling to the Bangkok Don Mueang International Airport (DMK).

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The Boeing 737-800 aircraft developed a flap-related problem and therefore the aircraft returned to the parking bay after push back following which the flight had to be cancelled. Flaps in an aircraft are very important during both take-off and landing, an official at the airport said.

According to an airline official, the flight was cancelled for the day since “safety of passengers is paramount”. All the passengers were provided hotel accommodation, airline sources said.

“Thai Lion landed at Kolkata Airport at 1.23 am, with 151 passengers on board from Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand. The aircraft was pushed back from parking bay 60R at 2.35 am to go to the runway. After push back it reported a technical problem and requested return to bay. The aircraft returned to parking stand 34 at 2.43 am. All 130 passengers were sent to hotel,” an Airports Authority of India spokesperson said.