Abu Dhabi-Bound Air India Express Flight Returns To Cochin After Engine Oil Pressure Drops To Danger Zone

An Air India Express Boeing 737 flying from Cochin to Abu Dhabi, on Monday, was forced to return mid-flight after crew members detected a rapid drop in the engine's oil level. Following this, the pilots shut down the engine and safely landed the aircraft back at Cochin International Airport.

Nearly 50 minutes after takeoff at 36,000 feet, the flight crew detected a rapid decrease in Engine 1 oil levels. They immediately assessed the situation to determine the necessary course of action, ANI reported.

The commander then contacted Mumbai Radio on high frequency and informed ATC that the flight was turning back to Cochin. Standard safety procedures were followed as the AI Express flight reversed its course.

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During the diversion, both pilots kept monitoring engine parameters and prepared for every contingency. Roughly 45 minutes after the turn back, Engine 1 oil pressure began to fluctuate and entered the red zone on the cockpit gauge, indicating a drop into the danger range. The crew then followed the Non-Normal Checklist (NNC) and shut down Engine 1.  The passengers and crew on board was unaware of the gravity of the incident at that time.

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The Directorate General Of Civil Aviation (DGCA has not issued a statement on the matter yet.

The latest incident comes less than a month after another serious technical episode involving an Air India Group aircraft. On August 4, Air India flight AI 2379, operating from Phuket to Delhi, experienced a near-simultaneous loss of pressure in all three hydraulic systems while flying at 36,000 feet.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's preliminary report, released on September 4, said the hydraulic failure caused the autopilot to disconnect, triggered a stall warning and resulted in an altitude upset. Twenty-four passengers and crew members were injured.