Air India flight delayed over 5 hours at Mumbai airport after hay found on wing

An Air India flight from Mumbai to Bangkok was delayed for over five hours on June 25, 2025, after hay was discovered stuck below the left wing of the aircraft.

The flight, AI 2354, was scheduled to depart at 7:45 am but eventually took off around 1 pm, according to flight tracking website Flightradar24.com.

Airline’s response

Air India, in an official statement, confirmed that the matter was “immediately attended to” and that the aircraft was cleared for operation after mandatory checks. The airline, however, did not disclose key details such as:

• The number of passengers and crew on board

• The type of aircraft (though Flightradar24.com lists it as an Airbus A320Neo)

• The exact duration for which passengers were stranded

Flight crew time limits cause further delay

Air India explained that regulatory flight duty time limitations prevented the original crew from operating the delayed flight. Passengers were disembarked and served refreshments while a fresh crew was arranged, after which the flight finally departed.

Hay source unknown

The airline noted that the source of the hay remains unidentified and has instructed the ground service provider at Mumbai Airport to conduct an investigation. The incident has also been reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

DGCA tightens surveillance

The delay comes shortly after the DGCA initiated a widespread surveillance drive at major airports across India following the June 12 Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad.
The regulator reviewed multiple areas:

• Flight operations

• Aircraft airworthiness

• Ramp safety

• Air Traffic Control (ATC)

• Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) systems

• Pre-flight medical checks

While the DGCA did not name specific airlines or airports, it flagged multiple violations in aircraft maintenance and operational procedures, indicating growing scrutiny over India’s aviation safety practices.