Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 7: An Air India Express flight from Kochi to Abu Dhabi returned to Cochin International Airport after the crew detected a problem with the aircraft’s engine, the airline said on Monday.

Boeing 737 flight IX 415 was around 50 minutes into its journey and flying at 36,000 feet when the crew noticed a rapid drop in the oil quantity of Engine 1, according to reports.

An Air India Express spokesperson said the aircraft had made an air turnback a week earlier in accordance with established safety protocols.

The pilots conducted a FORDEC assessment, a structured aviation decision-making process, and decided to return to Kochi as the engine oil level continued to fall. The commander informed air traffic control through Mumbai Radio before the aircraft reversed course.

The crew continued monitoring engine parameters and remained prepared for contingencies. Reports said Engine 1 oil pressure began fluctuating around 45 minutes after the turnback and entered the red zone on the cockpit gauge, indicating a significant drop.

The aircraft subsequently landed safely at Cochin International Airport. The passengers were later flown to Abu Dhabi on an alternative aircraft.

The airline said reports presenting the incident without the relevant timeline and context could cause unnecessary concern among passengers and the travelling public.

Separately, an Air India Express flight from Dammam to Delhi was diverted to Ahmedabad in August after a tissue paper containing a bomb threat was found in the aircraft’s bathroom. Forty passengers were safely evacuated and frisked.

According to the Airport Police Station, authorities were alerted around 2:40 pm by the Operation Control Centre that Air India Express flight IX-170, operating from Dammam in Saudi Arabia to Delhi, had been diverted to Ahmedabad Airport.