An Air India Express flight bound for Abu Dhabi was forced to return to Kochi after the crew detected a rapid drop in the oil quantity of one of its engines, according to a report by news agency ANI.
The Boeing 737 operating flight IX 415 from Kochi to Abu Dhabi turned back on August 31 after the pilots noticed the oil quantity in Engine 1 falling rapidly.
The aircraft was around 50 minutes into the flight and flying at 36,000 feet when the crew detected the issue.
Crew decides to return to Kochi
After noticing the rapid decline in engine oil quantity, the pilot and co-pilot carried out a FORDEC assessment, a decision-making process used by flight crews to evaluate risks and determine an appropriate course of action.
As the oil quantity continued to fall, the crew decided to abandon the Abu Dhabi sector and return to Kochi.
Sources said the crew later shut down Engine 1 after its oil pressure entered the danger zone.
The aircraft subsequently landed safely at Cochin International Airport. There were no reports of injuries in connection with the incident.
Air India Express faces another technical disruption
The incident comes amid other recent flight disruptions involving technical or operational issues.
An Air India Express flight from Varanasi to Delhi was recently diverted to Lucknow because of a technical issue. The airline described the move as a precautionary diversion made with passenger safety in mind.
The aircraft landed safely in Lucknow, where passengers were provided refreshments. Air India Express said an alternate flight was being arranged to take them to Delhi.
Earlier, a Delhi-bound IndiGo aircraft also returned to Goa after an engine-related technical issue and made an emergency landing.
The latest Air India Express incident highlights the importance of precautionary decisions by flight crews when critical engine parameters show potentially dangerous changes.
