Air India Flight Returns to Delhi Due to Engine Fire Alert

Emergency Landing of Air India Flight

An Air India aircraft bound for Indore made an unexpected return to Delhi shortly after takeoff on Sunday, August 31. The pilot received an alert indicating a potential fire in the right engine. The airline confirmed that the plane has been grounded for inspection, and passengers are being transferred to another aircraft that will depart for Indore shortly.

According to Air India, the A320 Neo aircraft had one engine shut down and landed safely at Delhi Airport. Reports indicate that the emergency landing occurred around 6:15 AM, with over 90 individuals on board. Flight AI2913 has been halted for inspection.

Sources revealed that the aircraft circled in the air for more than 30 minutes before landing in Delhi. Air India stated that the crew followed protocol by shutting down the affected engine and safely returning to the airport.

The Tata Group-owned airline provided limited details, mentioning that the flight returned shortly after takeoff due to the fire alert in the right engine. The crew acted according to established safety standards, ensuring a safe landing.

Flight tracking website FlightRadar24 indicated that the A320 Neo operated this flight, which circled for over half an hour before landing back in Delhi. Air India has reported the incident to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Recently, there have been multiple reports of technical issues with Air India aircraft.

DGCA Identifies Safety Issues in Air India Operations

According to reports, these incidents occurred shortly after a DGCA report highlighted 51 safety deficiencies in Air India's operations, which are owned by the Tata Group. This report was based on inspections conducted at Air India's main hub from July 1 to 3.

The internal monitoring report revealed significant shortcomings in various areas, including flight dispatch, crew scheduling, simulator training, digital record-keeping, and cabin crew procedures.