BENGALURU, India: An Air India Boeing 777-300ER aircraft was forced to turn back shortly after take-off from New Delhi on Monday after a sharp drop in engine oil pressure, India’s aviation safety regulator said.
The aircraft, which was operating a passenger flight to Mumbai, landed safely back in Delhi after the pilots shut down one engine as a precaution, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew.
In a statement, the DGCA said the pilots observed low oil pressure in the right-hand engine during flap retraction shortly after departure.
The oil pressure subsequently dropped to zero, prompting the crew to shut down the engine and return to Delhi in line with standard operating procedures.
“Modern aircraft are designed to safely fly and land with one engine inoperative,” the regulator said, adding that the aircraft landed without incident.
The DGCA said it has ordered investigation and the aircraft will not be cleared for service until all required technical checks are completed.
Air India apologises to passengers
Air India confirmed the incident and apologised to passengers for the disruption.
“Air India sincerely regrets the inconvenience caused due to this unforeseen situation. The aircraft is undergoing the necessary checks,” an airline spokesperson said.
The aircraft involved is a 15-year-old Boeing 777-300ER, according to flight tracking website Flightradar24.
The plane has previously operated long-haul routes to destinations including Vienna, Vancouver and Chicago.
Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment, Reuters reported.
Scrutiny of Air India
The incident comes amid heightened regulatory scrutiny of Air India. The airline has faced increased attention from authorities following the June 12 crash of a Boeing Dreamliner that killed 260 people.
Earlier this year, the DGCA flagged multiple safety lapses at the Tata Group-owned carrier.
Earlier, Reuters reported that an internal Air India investigation found “systemic failures” after one aircraft was found to have operated commercial flights without a valid airworthiness permit.
The airline acknowledged the findings and said it was strengthening compliance.
