An Air India flight from Kolkata, headed for Delhi and with the Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit on board, was cancelled just before take - off following a technical flaw on Sunday evening, officials said.
The flight, which had 237 passengers, was prepared for take - off from the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, when the pilot noticed the problem.
The ground engineers failed to repair the flaw, forcing the authorities to cancel the flight.
All the passengers were deplaned. Basit and 49 others were then put in a subsequent flight bound for Delhi.
The remaining passengers would be flown to Delhi in the morning flight on Monday.