An Air India Express Boeing 737 operating flight IX 415 from Cochin to Abu Dhabi was forced to return to Cochin after the crew detected a rapid drop in the oil quantity of Engine 1, which was later shut down at an altitude of 36,000 feet.The aircraft landed safely at Cochin International Airport after returning to its departure point.
The aircraft was carrying passengers, who were reportedly not aware of the seriousness of the technical issue during the flight.Around 50 minutes after takeoff, while the aircraft was cruising at 36,000 feet, the pilots noticed that the oil quantity in Engine 1 was falling rapidly.
The crew carried out a FORDEC assessment and, as the oil level continued to decline, decided to abandon the flight to Abu Dhabi and return to Cochin.The commander informed air traffic control about the diversion and the crew followed standard safety procedures. Both pilots closely monitored the engine parameters and remained prepared to deal with any further complications.
About 45 minutes after turning back, the oil pressure gauge for Engine 1 began fluctuating significantly and entered the red zone, indicating a critical drop in oil pressure. The crew then followed the Non-Normal Checklist and shut down the affected engine.
The aircraft subsequently landed overweight at Cochin while operating on a single engine. Such a landing involves a high workload and requires careful handling by the flight crew. The pilots completed the landing safely.
The incident comes amid growing scrutiny of technical issues and diversions involving Indian airlines. It also follows the preliminary report into an Air India flight operating from Phuket to Delhi, which prompted detailed technical inspections.
Following that incident, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu announced plans to expand psychoactive substance testing for flight crews. The latest Air India Express incident could also raise questions about whether the Ministry of Civil Aviation will further strengthen the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s safety audit and oversight framework.
The US Federal Aviation Administration reviews India’s aviation safety oversight under its International Aviation Safety Assessment programme roughly every five years. India’s last major assessment took place in October 2021, while the next one is scheduled for November 2026.
Official comments from Air India Express and the DGCA on the incident are awaited.