Melbourne – An Etihad Airways flight was forced to abort takeoff at Melbourne Airport on Sunday night (January 5, 2025).
The incident occurred during flight EY461, carrying 271 passengers, as it was preparing for takeoff. The pilot abruptly applied the brakes at high speed, causing two tires to deflate.
The airline, based in the United Arab Emirates, released a statement addressing the incident:
“Flight EY461 from Melbourne to Abu Dhabi experienced a rejected takeoff on January 5,” reported The National News on Monday (January 6, 2025).
“The crew decided to abort takeoff due to a technical issue. The aircraft successfully stopped on the runway, and emergency services were on standby as a precaution,” the statement continued.
Footage from the scene showed fire trucks surrounding the grounded Boeing 787.
“Firefighters applied foam to the aircraft’s landing gear tires as a routine precaution after a high-speed aborted takeoff,” the airline stated.
Etihad confirmed that all passengers disembarked safely, and efforts are underway to assist them in continuing their journeys.
The airline expressed regret for the inconvenience caused:
“The safety and comfort of our guests and crew remain our top priority,” it added.
