What Happened
An Air India flight from Delhi to Indore (AI2913) returned to Indira Gandhi International Airport on Sunday after the cockpit crew received a fire indication in the right engine shortly after takeoff. The pilots shut down the affected engine as a precaution, declared an emergency and landed safely in Delhi with no injuries reported. The airline said the aircraft has been grounded for inspection and the DGCA has been informed. Passengers were moved to an alternate aircraft to continue their journey.
Timeline, Aircraft and On-Board Details
The flight, operated by an Airbus A320neo, air-returned to Delhi in the early hours, touching down around 6:15 am, according to reports citing airline and airport sources. Initial tallies indicate there were more than 90 passengers on board. After landing, the aircraft taxied to the bay where ground responders stood by as a precaution.
Air India’s statement noted the right engine was shut down following the warning and standard operating procedures were followed during the approach and landing. Such procedures are designed for twin-engine jets to operate safely on one engine while returning to base or diverting.
Airline and Regulator Actions
Following the safe landing, passengers were deplaned and rebooked onto another aircraft for Indore. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has opened a technical inquiry, and the airline has initiated an internal engineering examination. The A320neo involved will remain grounded pending inspections of the engine and related systems.
Early accounts emphasize that the cockpit alert was a “fire indication” rather than a confirmed fire, a distinction aviation authorities frequently make until physical evidence—such as heat damage or fire traces—is verified by maintenance teams. Multiple outlets have reported the same phrasing drawn from the airline’s communication.
Why It Matters for Travelers
Engine warnings can be alarming, but aviation safety protocols are built around redundancy and conservative decision-making. The decision to shut down an engine and return is standard practice when a fire warning appears, prioritizing safety over schedule. Reports indicate no injuries and orderly handling at Delhi, including emergency services being placed on standby and subsequent passenger re-accommodation.
Travelers on the route can expect minor knock-on delays as the grounded aircraft awaits clearance; Air India said operations for affected passengers would continue on a replacement aircraft. In similar cases, regulators typically review flight data, maintenance logs, and crew reports before releasing findings or recommendations.
FAQs
The crew received a fire indication in the right engine and shut it down per procedure. A confirmed fire has not been stated; the aircraft is grounded for inspection to verify the alert.
No injuries were reported. The flight returned safely to Delhi and passengers were shifted to another aircraft for Indore.
The DGCA has been notified. Inspectors and airline engineers will analyze the engine and systems before the aircraft is cleared to fly again. Findings are typically released after technical reviews.
Sources:
Times of India
NDTV
Money Control
