The pilots of a Bengaluru-bound Air India flight from Mumbai on Thursday radioed “PAN PAN” after one of the plane’s engines stalled mid-air, Hindustan Times reported, citing officials familiar with the matter.
The incident involved flight AI 2812, an A320 Neo. Originally scheduled to depart at 2:05 in the morning, the flight took off around 2:15 and returned to Mumbai airport at approximately 2:35.
Officials familiar with the incident reported that some passengers were drenched during takeoff.
One official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “According to available official information, a sound was heard and sparks were seen during take-off. The pilot declared PAN PAN and returned to the airport a few minutes after take-off.”
“It was later learned that his engine 2 had stopped,” the official said, according to the HT report.
However, an Air India spokesperson said: “Flight AI2812 from Mumbai to Bengaluru on April 9 returned to Mumbai shortly after take-off as a precautionary measure due to a suspected technical problem in accordance with standard operating procedures. The aircraft landed safely and is undergoing detailed technical checks in accordance with Air India’s safety standards.”
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An airport official said a local emergency protocol was activated and the flight landed safely.
An Air India spokesperson said the airline regrets the inconvenience to passengers, adding that airport teams in Mumbai provided immediate assistance and a replacement aircraft was arranged to continue the journey. The spokesperson emphasized that the safety of passengers and crew remains the airline’s top priority.
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Officials noted that the original plane, which landed safely with 47 passengers on board, was grounded. A replacement plane was dispatched and took off at approximately 4:45 a.m., the official said.
Resignation of Air India CEO Campbell Wilson
Air India announced on Tuesday that Chief Executive Campbell Wilson has stepped down after nearly four years at the helm as the airline continues to face continued losses and increased regulatory scrutiny following last year’s crash that killed 260 people.
Mint was the first to report this on Monday evening.
Wilson’s departure comes shortly after the airline’s larger domestic rival, IndiGo, appointed aviation veteran Willie Walsh as its new CEO. Both of India’s top carriers are under pressure from an industry-wide crisis linked to the Middle East conflict and domestic operational problems.
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According to Reuters, Air India’s board was looking for a replacement for Wilson, a former Singapore Airlines executive who was hired in 2022 to lead the airline’s turnaround after years of decline under government ownership.
Campbell Wilson informed N Chandrasekaran in 2024 of his plan to step down this year, the airline said in a statement, adding that the New Zealander would continue in his role until a successor was appointed.
The statement added that Air India’s board has set up a committee to select Wilson’s replacement in the coming months. His original term was to last until 2027.
