Kolkata: In a concerning incident, an Air India flight (AI180) from San Francisco to Mumbai via Kolkata encountered a technical issue early Tuesday, prompting all passengers to deboard during its scheduled halt at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport.

The aircraft, which landed in Kolkata at 12:45 am, reported a malfunction in its left engine. Despite initial hopes for a swift resolution, it wasn’t until around 5:20 am that passengers were asked to disembark. The captain cited flight safety as the reason behind the decision, according to PTI.

A video from the airport showed ground staff inspecting the aircraft’s left engine on the tarmac, highlighting the seriousness of the issue.

This incident comes just five days after a devastating Air India crash shook the nation. Flight AI-171, en route from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel building moments after take-off. Tragically, 241 of the 242 people on board perished, with only one British national, Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, surviving the fiery crash.

The back-to-back incidents have raised serious concerns over Air India’s aircraft maintenance and safety standards, even as investigations continue into the causes of both events.