Technical Snag Forces Air India Flight to Abort Mumbai Journey, Lands Safely in Delhi

An Air India Delhi-Mumbai flight returned to Indira Gandhi International Airport shortly after takeoff on 22 December after the crew noticed low engine oil pressure in the right engine, according to officials. The aircraft, operating as AI887, landed safely back in Delhi, where all passengers and crew were taken off the plane without any reported injuries.

Air India said the affected aircraft is undergoing technical checks after the diversion. The airline apologised to passengers for the disruption and said alternative travel options were being arranged so that everyone reached Mumbai. The Tata-owned carrier also stressed that the "safety and wellbeing" of the passengers and the crew remains Air India's top priority.

Air India Delhi-Mumbai flight: airline statement and crew action

Explaining the sequence of events, Air India said: "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. The aircraft landed safely at Delhi and the passengers and crew have disembarked," the statement read. "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."

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation is also examining the Delhi-Mumbai flight case. The DGCA said the matter will be probed by the airline’s permanent investigation board. Findings from this internal board are expected to support the broader regulatory assessment of the technical problem reported on the Boeing B777-300ER.

Air India Delhi-Mumbai flight: official probe and ministry response

The Civil Aviation Ministry said it has taken note of the Delhi-Mumbai incident and has asked Air India and the DGCA for a detailed report after a full investigation. The ministry also directed the airline to offer complete support to affected passengers and to place them on later services where possible, ensuring minimal disruption to travel plans.

Further technical details of the Air India Delhi-Mumbai flight diversion were shared by authorities. "Today, Air India B777-300ER aircraft VT-ALS operating flight AIC 887 (Delhi-Mumbai) was involved in an air turnback as during flap retraction after take-off, the flight crew observed low engine oil pressure on Engine No. 2 (Right-Hand engine). Shortly thereafter, the engine oil pressure dropped to zero. Following the procedure, the crew shut down the No. 2 engine and the aircraft landed safely at Delhi. Inspection/rectification is in progress," it added.

Recent events show that the Delhi-Mumbai flight issue is not the only technical case involving the broader Air India group. Last week, an Air India Express service between Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam was cancelled on the ground at Gannavaram Airport after a technical snag was detected during taxiing. The flight had been scheduled to operate from Vijayawada to Visakhapatnam.

Vijayawada airport director Lakshmikanth Reddy told PTI that the Air India Express aircraft reported an engine problem while taxiing, which led to the return to the bay and later cancellation. Former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Minister K Atchennaidu and senior YSRCP leader B Satyanarayana were among the booked passengers on that sector.

Air India Express said that, similar to the Delhi-Mumbai flight case, the decision was taken with safety as the top concern. "In the interest of safety, our Vijayawada-Visakhapatnam flight returned to the ramp after the pilot identified a technical issue prior to departure. The flight was subsequently cancelled," it said in a statement. The airline added that passengers received alternative arrangements and were also offered an apology for the inconvenience.

Both the Air India Delhi-Mumbai flight diversion and the Vijayawada-Visakhapatnam cancellation highlight how crews are following safety procedures when faults appear. Regulators and the ministry are now awaiting detailed investigation reports, while affected passengers have been shifted to other flights or given alternate plans to complete their journeys.