Indore-Bound Air India Express Flight Lands Safely After Mid-Air Engine Glitch

New Delhi- An Indore-bound Air India Express flight from Delhi experienced a mid-air engine problem on Friday, forcing the pilots to issue a ‘PAN-PAN’ call to Air Traffic Control before landing safely. All 161 passengers and crew members were unharmed.

The ‘PAN-PAN’ call is an internationally recognised aviation signal indicating an urgent but non-life-threatening situation that requires immediate assistance from ATC or ground services.

According to officials, flight IX 1028 reported a suspected oil filter issue while descending into Indore. Following protocol, the pilots informed ATC and executed precautionary measures before safely landing at Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport with a delay of about 20 minutes.

“Due to a suspected oil filter issue during descent, the crew followed standard operating procedures and landed safely. Our pilots are well trained to handle such situations,” an Air India Express spokesperson said, confirming the safety of all passengers.

This incident comes amid a series of recent mid-air technical issues. In July, an Air India Express flight to Phuket returned to Hyderabad shortly after takeoff due to a technical fault, while an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Goa had to make an emergency landing in Mumbai after an engine snag.

Air India Express, which operates Boeing 737 Max aircraft, reiterated that passenger safety is its top priority.

With inputs from IANS