Air India Express Boeing 737 operating flight IX 415 from Cochin to Abu Dhabi was forced to turn back mid-flight after the crew detected a rapid drop in Engine 1 oil quantity.
The engine was later shut down after its oil pressure entered the danger zone. The aircraft landed safely at Cochin International Airport.
According to sources, the aircraft was around 50 minutes into the flight and flying at 36,000 feet when the pilots noticed Engine 1 oil quantity falling rapidly.
The crew carried out a FORDEC assessment. As the oil quantity continued to drop, they decided to abandon the Abu Dhabi sector and return to Cochin.
Pilots alert ATC, reverse course
The commander contacted Mumbai Radio on high frequency and informed air traffic control that the flight was turning back to Cochin. Standard safety procedures were followed as the aircraft reversed course.
Throughout the diversion, both pilots monitored engine parameters and prepared for possible contingencies.
Engine shut down after oil pressure enters red zone
About 45 minutes after the turn-back, Engine 1 oil pressure began fluctuating and entered the red zone on the cockpit gauge, indicating a dangerous level.
The crew then followed the Non-Normal Checklist (NNC) and shut down Engine 1.
Overweight single-engine landing completed safely
Landing an overweight Boeing 737 on a single engine is a high-workload manoeuvre. The crew completed the landing safely at Cochin International Airport.
Passengers on board were reportedly unaware of the seriousness of the situation that had developed in the cockpit.
Incident comes amid scrutiny of airline safety
Technical diversions have become a frequent occurrence across Indian carriers. The latest incident comes days after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau released its preliminary findings on the Air India Phuket-Delhi flight.
The report said Airbus technical experts inspected the aircraft for three days in the presence of the investigation team. Hydraulic components and hydraulic samples were subsequently collected for further analysis.
DGCA safety audits may face fresh scrutiny
Following the Phuket-Delhi incident, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said the DGCA would increase the annual percentage of psychoactive substance tests for flight crew.
The Air India Express engine-oil incident now raises a parallel question over whether the Ministry of Civil Aviation will also strengthen the framework governing DGCA safety audits.
India’s next FAA safety assessment due in November
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) generally reviews a country’s aviation safety oversight under its International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) programme about once every five years.
India’s last major IASA audit was conducted in October 2021, while the next assessment is expected in November this year. Whether New Delhi uses this window to amend rules governing DGCA safety audits will be closely watched.
