Air India Delhi-Indore Flight Declares Mayday After Engine Fire Alert, Emergency Landing Safe

Pilots of an Air India flight AI2913 declared a mayday on Sunday, prompting an emergency landing at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. The aircraft, en route to Indore, reported a fire alert in the right engine shortly after takeoff. Air traffic control (ATC) immediately declared a full emergency and mobilized fire and rescue teams.

All passengers and crew safely disembarked, and Air India arranged an alternate aircraft to continue the journey to Indore. The affected A320 neo was grounded for a thorough engineering inspection to determine the cause of the fire alert. The DGCA is expected to review the incident, though no official statement has been released regarding the mayday call.

Emergency Protocols and Safety Measures

The mayday call is a standard international emergency alert used to indicate life-threatening situations. In this case, the cockpit crew initiated the call after the engine number 2 fire indication. The flight had been airborne for approximately 30 minutes before returning to Delhi. "Flight AI2913, operating from Delhi to Indore on August 31, air-returned to Delhi shortly after takeoff," stated Air India.

Following this incident, Air India has intensified security checks across its fleet. This decision comes after the tragic June 12 crash of a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner from Ahmedabad to Gatwick, which resulted in 241 fatalities.

Air India's proactive measures aim to ensure passenger safety and prevent future occurrences. Investigations into both incidents are ongoing, as the airline continues to maintain high safety standards across all operations.