New Delhi : An Air India Delhi-Mumbai flight was forced to return to the national capital shortly after take-off on Monday after the crew detected a critical drop in engine oil pressure on the aircraft’s right-hand engine. Flight AI887, operated by a Boeing 777-337 ER aircraft, had departed from Indira Gandhi International Airport at 3.20 am when pilots observed abnormally low oil pressure on the right-hand engine, identified as Engine No 2.
The aircraft landed safely at Delhi airport, with all passengers and crew disembarking normally. No injuries were reported. A drop in engine oil pressure to zero is treated as a serious safety concern, as oil is essential to keep engine components cool and moving smoothly. Inadequate oil pressure can lead to rapid overheating. Air India confirmed that the flight crew acted in accordance with established safety protocols after the engine parameter warning.
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 airline added that the aircraft is undergoing necessary technical checks and will resume service only after full clearance. Air India sincerely regrets the inconvenience caused due to this unforeseen situation.
The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew remain top priority, the spokesperson said. The incident comes days after a Visakhapatnam-bound Air India Express flight was cancelled at Gannavaram Airport on the night of December 18 after an engine-related technical snag. Vijayawada airport director Lakshmikanth Reddy said the problem was detected while the aircraft was taxiing, forcing it to return to the bay around 8.30 pm.
An Air India Express spokesperson said the engine issue was identified prior to departure and the flight was cancelled in the interest of safety. Passengers were provided hotel accommodation along with options for a full refund or complimentary rescheduling. While Air India and Air India Express reiterated that safety drove the decisions, the back-to-back incidents have placed renewed focus on aircraft maintenance.