Kuwait City, Kuwait: A Kuwait Airways flight bound for Manila was delayed early Friday morning after the aircraft encountered a minor technical malfunction while taxiing for departure at Kuwait International Airport (KWI), authorities confirmed.
The incident involved Kuwait Airways Flight KU417, a scheduled service from Kuwait City to Manila. The aircraft suffered a braking system malfunction shortly before takeoff. The fault reportedly caused a brief halt in aircraft movement on the taxiway but did not lead to any injuries or fire onboard.
“The situation was brought under control quickly, and no injuries were reported among passengers or crew,” Kuwait’s Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA) said in an official statement. “The technical teams carried out immediate safety checks, and the aircraft was secured in accordance with international aviation protocols.”
Airport ground crews, fire services, and airline maintenance teams responded promptly to the alert. The aircraft, which had 284 passengers onboard, was towed back to the gate area for inspection. Passengers were deboarded safely and provided refreshments while Kuwait Airways arranged an alternate aircraft to operate the route.
A replacement aircraft later departed Kuwait for Manila around 12:20 p.m. local time, several hours after the initial schedule. The airline confirmed that no flight operations or other services at the airport were affected by the incident.
The Public Authority for Civil Aviation – Kuwait (PACA) has initiated a standard investigation to determine the cause of the malfunction. Preliminary findings suggest a mechanical issue in the braking system, but officials emphasized that it posed no threat to flight safety.
PACA reaffirmed that all safety procedures were executed without delay, adding that the aircraft’s crew followed prescribed emergency checklists effectively.
“Passenger safety is our foremost priority. Incidents of this nature are handled in accordance with international standards and in coordination with Kuwait Airways’ engineering division,” the authority said.
Kuwait Airways stated that its engineering and safety teams are carrying out detailed inspections on the affected aircraft before returning it to service. The airline added that passengers who missed connecting flights were rebooked and assisted at Kuwait International Airport’s customer service desk.
Operations across Kuwait Airways’ regional network reportedly continued without disruption. Aviation tracking services showed regular departures from KWI through the day.
The aircraft involved remains grounded pending engineering clearance and PACA certification. No further issues or related incidents have been reported.
