Air India AI2913 returns to Delhi after engine fire indication

An Air India flight from Delhi to Indore returned to Delhi shortly after takeoff on August 31 after the cockpit crew reported a fire indication in the aircraft's right engine, the carrier said, and the plane landed safely with all passengers and crew unharmed. The flight, operating as AI2913, was grounded for inspection and its passengers were moved to an alternate aircraft to complete the journey to Indore, the airline said.

According to the carrier, the pilots followed standard operating procedures, shut down the affected engine and elected to return to Delhi. The airline said the flight landed safely and that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has been informed. An Air India spokesperson said the airline regretted the inconvenience and that passenger and crew safety remained its top priority.

Accounts differed on some details. Several reports said the aircraft, an A320neo, was airborne for more than 30 minutes and touched down at around 6:15 a.m. Others described the return as occurring shortly after takeoff. Some sources reported the pilots issued a Mayday call and that air traffic control declared a full emergency, while the airline said the alert was downgraded to...