An Air India flight bound for Mumbai was forced to make an emergency return to the national capital on Monday morning after experiencing a serious engine failure shortly after takeoff. The aircraft, carrying hundreds of passengers, landed safely on a single engine following established safety protocols.
In-Flight Emergency Over Delhi
The incident involved Air India flight AI 887, a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft registered as VT-ALS. The plane had departed from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) at approximately 6:10 AM on December 22 with 335 people on board, including passengers and crew members.
According to an official statement from the aviation ministry, the flight crew observed a critical warning during the initial climb phase. "During flap retraction after take-off, the flight crew observed low engine oil pressure on engine number 2 (right side). Shortly thereafter, the engine oil pressure dropped to zero," the statement read. Following standard operating procedures, the pilots promptly shut down the affected engine.
Safe Return and Passenger Management
Demonstrating the safety redundancy of modern twin-engine aircraft, the plane successfully returned to Delhi and landed safely at around 6:52 AM. The Indira Gandhi International Airport had activated its emergency protocols in preparation for the aircraft's return.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) immediately launched an investigation into the engine failure. The regulatory body also oversaw efforts to minimize passenger inconvenience. Air India swiftly arranged an alternate Boeing 777, registered as VT-ALP, to complete the journey to Mumbai.
Passengers were provided with refreshments at the boarding gate while they waited. The replacement aircraft eventually departed from Delhi at around 10:30 AM, ensuring the travelers reached their destination.
Airline Response and Ongoing Probe
An Air India spokesperson expressed regret for the disruption while emphasizing safety as the top priority. "The crew operating flight AI 887... decided to return to Delhi shortly after take-off due to a technical issue as per standard operating procedure. The aircraft landed safely at Delhi," the spokesperson said. "At Air India, the safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew remain top priority."
The aviation ministry confirmed that the incident will be thoroughly examined by the airline's permanent investigation board under the direct supervision of the DGCA. The grounded aircraft is undergoing comprehensive technical checks to determine the exact cause of the engine oil pressure failure.
This event highlights the rigorous safety procedures in place within Indian aviation, ensuring that even serious technical issues can be managed without endangering lives. The successful single-engine landing underscores the high level of training received by flight crews to handle such in-air emergencies.
