An Air India flight scheduled to depart for Bangkok from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport faced a delay of over five hours on Tuesday after a safety concern was detected during pre-flight inspections. The Airbus A320Neo operating flight AI 2354, originally set to leave at 7:45 am, was held back when ground staff discovered hay lodged beneath the aircraft’s left wing. The issue was promptly addressed, and the aircraft finally took off around 1:00 pm after being cleared for operation.

In an official statement released on Friday, Air India confirmed that the presence of hay beneath the left wing was noticed during routine pre-flight checks. The airline assured that passengers were disembarked and provided refreshments while the problem was being resolved. Although the airline did not specify the number of passengers or crew onboard, it emphasized that safety protocols were strictly followed. Air India has also directed its ground handling service provider to investigate how the foreign material ended up under the wing.

The incident comes at a time when India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has intensified surveillance on airline safety after recent violations were uncovered across multiple carriers and airports. The DGCA has signaled increased oversight efforts to bolster aviation safety standards nationwide, especially following notable recent incidents such as the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12. The agency has been closely monitoring airlines to ensure compliance with safety and maintenance regulations in India’s rapidly growing aviation sector.