Kuwait Airways flight KU417 delayed after minor Tarmac incident at Kuwait Airport

A flight carrying nearly 300 passengers from Kuwait to the Philippines was significantly delayed early Friday morning following an unexpected technical glitch. The incident, which occurred just as the aircraft was preparing for departure on the tarmac, caused minor damage but prompted Kuwaiti aviation authorities to immediately deploy a replacement plane to ensure the safety of all travelers.

The early morning malfunction that halted takeoff
A Kuwait Airways flight scheduled to depart for the Philippines was delayed on Thursday after a sudden brake-system malfunction occurred while the aircraft was being moved on the tarmac at Kuwait International Airport. The incident, which took place at around 4:24 a.m., prompted immediate safety checks and temporarily grounded the aircraft before a replacement plane was arranged.

According to statements reported by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the issue emerged before any take-off procedures had begun, and the fault was contained to the aircraft’s fuselage during ground handling. Emergency and technical response teams were dispatched to secure the aircraft, carry out inspections, and ensure that no operational risks remained. Officials reiterated that the situation was classified as a minor technical incident, but was treated with full precaution as part of standard aviation safety protocol.

There were approximately 284 passengers on board Kuwait Airways Flight KU417 to Manila at the time of the malfunction. None of the passengers or crew sustained injuries, and all were moved back to the terminal as checks progressed. Travellers were kept informed about the situation, while ground staff coordinated assistance and alternative arrangements to reduce disruption. After engineers confirmed the need for further technical evaluation of the original aircraft, a replacement aircraft was deployed, and the flight departed later at 12:20 p.m. for the Philippines.

Aviation officials noted that although such incidents are infrequent, issues involving braking systems during taxiing, towing, or pushback operations are taken very seriously due to the potential risks associated with an aircraft’s movement on the ground. The DGCA is expected to review technical reports, including whether the malfunction stemmed from a mechanical fault, maintenance-related issue, or ground-handling factor.

Damage report and passenger safety
Although the malfunction caused the flight to be immediately grounded, authorities stressed that the incident was minor and contained.

The resulting damage was strictly limited to the aircraft's fuselage (the main body of the plane). Crucially, the DGCA reported that no injuries were sustained by any of the 284 passengers or crew members. Technical teams quickly responded to the site, securing the area and conducting all required inspections to ensure surrounding operational safety at the airport.

Al Rajhi emphasized that adhering to international aviation safety standards remains the absolute top priority for both Kuwait Airways and the Civil Aviation Authority, confirming the decision to replace the plane was made in accordance with these rigorous safety protocols.

Swift recovery and final departure time
To minimize the impact on the hundreds of affected travelers, a replacement aircraft was quickly arranged and deployed.

After a delay of nearly eight hours while the new plane was prepared and the passengers were transferred, Flight KU417 eventually took off. The replacement aircraft departed Kuwait International Airport at 12:20 p.m., continuing its journey to the Philippines. The decisive action by the authorities and the airline ensured that while the travel schedule was affected, the trip proceeded with maximum assurance of safety for everyone on board.