An Air India flight heading to Mumbai had to return to Delhi on Monday morning after a technical issue surfaced soon after take-off. The aircraft remained in the air for about an hour before landing safely back at the national capital.
The flight, AI887, operated by a Boeing 777, was carrying around 355 passengers. The crew detected a problem during the early phase of the flight and decided to return as a safety measure.
What Went Wrong Mid-Air
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) explained that the issue appeared during flap retraction after take-off. The flight crew noticed low engine oil pressure on the aircraft’s right-hand engine.
The situation escalated shortly after. “Shortly thereafter, the engine oil pressure dropped to zero,” the aviation regulator said.
Following standard operating procedures, the pilots shut down the affected engine. The aircraft then made a controlled return and landed safely in Delhi.
DGCA Confirms Safe Landing
The DGCA confirmed that the aircraft executed an air turnback and that the crew handled the issue as per established safety guidelines.
“The Air India aircraft was involved in Airturnback as during flap retraction after take-off, the flight crew observed low engine oil pressure on Engine No. 2 (Right-Hand engine),” the DGCA said.
The regulator added that inspections and technical checks are currently underway.
Air India Explains the Decision
Air India confirmed the incident and said the crew acted in line with safety protocols.
“The crew operating flight AI887 from Delhi to Mumbai on 22 December decided to return to Delhi shortly after take-off due to a technical issue as per standard operating procedure,” an Air India spokesperson said.
The airline did not specify the exact nature of the fault but stressed that safety remained the top priority.
Passengers Safely Disembark
After landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport, all passengers and crew disembarked safely. No injuries were reported.
“The aircraft is undergoing the necessary checks. Our ground team at Delhi is providing immediate assistance to the passengers, and alternative arrangements have been made to fly them to their destination shortly. At Air India, the safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew remain top priority,” the spokesperson added.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation also took note of the incident. It said it has sought a detailed report from Air India and directed the DGCA to conduct a full investigation.
The ministry instructed the airline to provide all necessary support to affected passengers and ensure smooth onward travel.
Airline Responds to Ministry
Air India responded publicly, acknowledging the inconvenience caused to passengers.
“We fully empathise with the passengers who were inconvenienced following the precautionary air-return of AI887 to Delhi.”
The airline confirmed that a replacement aircraft was arranged to complete the journey.
“An alternative aircraft was arranged to operate a replacement flight, which later departed with all passengers.”
Support Provided to Passengers
Air India said its ground teams assisted passengers during the wait. The airline provided refreshments and ensured senior officials were present to address concerns.
“Our teams on the ground assisted all passengers while they awaited the departure, with refreshments provided to all. Senior Air India representatives personally met with the passengers on the ground and were available to provide any required assistance,” the airline said.
The DGCA said the incident will be investigated by the airline’s Permanent Investigation Board under regulatory supervision.
“We commit to fully cooperating with the investigation and regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers,” Air India said.