Etihad Chennai-Abu Dhabi Flight Grounded After Wing Fire Scare, Hydraulic Leak Suspected

An Etihad Airways flight from Chennai to Abu Dhabi carrying around 280 passengers was grounded on Tuesday following a major technical scare during take-off preparations at Chennai International Airport .

Initial reports from airport officials stated that a fire-like flare-up or smoke was noticed near the aircraft’s left wing while the plane was preparing for departure. The pilots immediately aborted the take-off procedure and alerted airport authorities, triggering emergency response protocols.

All passengers and crew members were safely evacuated from the aircraft, and no injuries were reported. Airport Fire Service personnel rushed to the spot and quickly brought the situation under control before it could escalate further. The flight was subsequently cancelled.

However, later reports quoting sources said the incident may not have involved an actual fire. Engineers reportedly detected a hydraulic leak in the aircraft and declared it Aircraft on Ground (AOG) , meaning the plane was considered technically unfit for operation until detailed inspections and repairs are completed.

The affected aircraft was identified as an Airbus A320 (A6-EIT) operating the Chennai-Abu Dhabi route. Following the incident, the aircraft was towed back to the parking stand for technical examination. Officials also clarified that there was no diversion or in-flight emergency, as the issue was detected before take-off.

Etihad Airways had not issued a detailed official statement on the exact cause of the incident at the time of reporting.