UAE's Etihad Airways aborts takeoff of Melbourne-Abu Dhabi flight

Dubai: An Etihad Airways flight travelling from Melbourne to Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport aborted takeoff earlier on January 5 due to "technical reasons", the airline confirmed in a statement to Gulf News.

"Etihad Airways flight EY461 from Melbourne (MEL) to Abu Dhabi (AUH) experienced a rejected takeoff on 05 January 2025. The flight crew decided to halt the take-off for technical reasons, the aircraft was safely brought to a stop on the runway and emergency services attended as a precaution," it said.

"The fire service applied foam to the tyres on the aircraft’s landing gear, which is a routine precaution following a high-speed rejected takeoff. Guests have been disembarked safely and our teams are working to enable them to continue their onward journeys as quickly as possible."

It is a normal occurrence for the two tires of the flight to deflate as a result of the high-speed rejected takeoff, a media guidance shared by Etihad Airways noted.

"Etihad Airways sincerely regrets any inconvenience caused. The safety and comfort of our guests and crew remain our highest priority," said an Etihad Airways spokesperson.