Thai Lion Air Flight grounded at Kolkata airport with technical fault, departs safely with 96 passengers

NEW DELHI: A Bangkok-bound Thai Lion Air plane, which was temporarily grounded at Kolkata Airport in the early hours of July 5 after encountering a technical issue during taxiing and forcing it to return to the bay, resumed flight operations successfully on Sunday.

Flight TLM242 from Don Mueang International Airport, Bangkok, arrived in Kolkata at 01:23 AM IST on July 5, carrying 151 passengers. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-800, was scheduled to operate the return leg as TLM243.

After being cleared for pushback from Stand 60R at 2:35 AM IST, the aircraft reported a technical malfunction and requested to return. It was re-parked at Stand 34 by 2:43 AM IST. The outbound flight was subsequently cancelled, and 130 passengers were deboarded and provided hotel accommodation.

Airport authorities noted that the aircraft’s extended stay on the apron also caused a 25-minute delay to an incoming Qatar Airways flight due to stand availability issues.

Following inspections and technical clearance, the airline resumed services the next day. A rescheduled flight, operating under the call sign SL243D, took off from Kolkata at 6:17 AM IST on July 6, carrying 96 passengers to Bangkok.

Earlier on Saturday, Thai Lion, having call sign TLM 242, landed at Kolkata Airport at 0123, with 151 Passengers on board from Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand.

The aircraft bearing registration HSLGS took Pushback from 60R at 0235. After taking Pushback, it reported Technical and requested a return to Bay. The flight with Call Sign TLM 243 once again parked at parking stand 34 at 0243. All 130 Passengers were sent to the Hotel. (ANI)