What happened
On Sunday, January 5, 2025, Etihad Airways flight EY461, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner registered A6-BLN, rejected its take-off from runway 34 at Melbourne-Tullamarine Airport, Victoria. The aircraft was accelerating for departure to Abu Dhabi when the flight crew detected a technical issue and made the critical decision to abort the take-off.
At approximately 17:53 local time, ADS-B data indicated the aircraft had reached a ground speed of at least 174 knots before the take-off rejection was initiated. The decision to reject at this high speed required significant braking action, with the aircraft's brakes generating extreme heat during the abort sequence. The flight crew prioritized the safety and comfort of the 289 occupants on board.