An Air India Boeing 777 aircraft was forced to return to Delhi after pilots detected a sudden drop in engine oil pressure shortly after takeoff, India’s aviation regulator confirmed on Monday, December 22.
The aircraft, a B777-300ER, was en route to Mumbai when the issue occurred during flap retraction after departure. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the oil pressure in the aircraft’s right-hand engine dropped sharply and eventually fell to zero. Following standard safety procedures, the flight crew shut down the affected engine and made the decision to turn back.
The plane landed safely in Delhi without any injuries reported. The DGCA stated that the incident will be thoroughly investigated to determine the cause and ensure compliance with safety protocols.
Aviation experts note that modern commercial aircraft are engineered to operate safely on a single engine if necessary, and such procedures are part of routine pilot training.
The incident comes at a time when Air India remains under heightened scrutiny. Earlier this year, a tragic Boeing Dreamliner crash on June 12 claimed 260 lives, placing the airline’s safety practices under the spotlight. The DGCA has since identified multiple safety lapses at the carrier, which was government-owned until 2022.
In a separate review conducted earlier this month, Air India acknowledged “systemic failures” after discovering that one of its aircraft had operated commercial flights without a valid airworthiness permit, according to a Reuters report. The airline admitted it must significantly improve compliance standards.
In a statement issued on Monday, an Air India spokesperson said the airline regrets the inconvenience caused to passengers and confirmed that the aircraft is undergoing necessary technical checks.
Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 shows the aircraft involved is approximately 15 years old and has previously operated long-haul routes to destinations including Vienna, Vancouver, and Chicago. Boeing has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the incident.
