An Air India Boeing 777-300ER aircraft operating from Delhi to Mumbai was compelled to execute an emergency return on Monday following a critical drop in engine oil pressure. According to India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), pilots detected abnormally low oil pressure in the right engine during flaps retraction after takeoff. The pressure subsequently plummeted to zero, prompting the flight crew to initiate standard safety protocols by shutting down the affected engine.
The aircraft, registered as VT-ALV and approximately 15 years old, safely returned to Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport without further incident. This particular aircraft has previously served long-haul routes to Vienna, Vancouver, and Chicago according to aviation tracking data.
This incident occurs against a backdrop of intensified regulatory scrutiny toward Air India’s safety protocols. The airline has faced heightened oversight since the tragic June 12 Boeing Dreamliner crash that claimed 260 lives. Earlier this month, Reuters reported that an internal Air India investigation uncovered ‘systemic failures’ after one of its aircraft operated commercial flights without proper airworthiness certification.
The DGCA has previously identified multiple safety deficiencies within the airline, which transitioned from government ownership to private management in 2022. Air India issued a statement expressing regret for passenger inconveniences and confirmed the aircraft is undergoing comprehensive technical inspections. Boeing declined to immediately comment on the developing situation.
Aviation experts emphasize that modern twin-engine aircraft like the Boeing 777 are engineered to maintain safe flight operations with only one functioning engine, with comprehensive procedures established for such scenarios.