An Air India Express flight bound for Abu Dhabi was forced to return to Kochi after the crew detected a rapid drop in engine oil quantity during the journey.
The Boeing 737 was operating flight IX 415 from Kochi to Abu Dhabi when the problem was noticed on August 31. According to reports, the aircraft had been flying for around 50 minutes at an altitude of approximately 36,000 feet when the pilot and co-pilot observed that the oil quantity in Engine 1 was falling rapidly.
The crew assessed the situation and decided to abandon the Abu Dhabi sector as the oil level continued to decline. The aircraft turned back towards Kochi as a precaution.
Sources said the crew eventually shut down Engine 1 after its oil pressure entered the danger zone. Despite the technical problem, the aircraft was able to land safely at Cochin International Airport.
There were no reports of injuries following the incident. The decision to return to the departure airport was taken with passenger safety in mind.
The incident comes amid several recent cases of flight disruptions involving technical problems.
In another recent case, an Air India Express flight travelling from Varanasi to Delhi was diverted to Lucknow after the crew detected a technical issue. The airline described the diversion as a precautionary measure and said the aircraft landed safely.
Passengers on that flight were provided refreshments after arriving in Lucknow, while the airline arranged an alternative flight to take them to Delhi.
Air India Express has faced a number of operational and technical disruptions in recent weeks, drawing attention to aircraft safety and maintenance procedures.
In a separate incident earlier this month, a Delhi-bound IndiGo aircraft returned to Goa following a technical problem involving one of its engines. The aircraft subsequently made a safe landing.
For the Kochi-Abu Dhabi flight, the rapid decline in engine oil quantity prompted the crew to take immediate action rather than continue the international sector. Aviation procedures allow pilots to turn back or divert when an aircraft develops a technical issue that could affect safe operation.
The safe return of the Boeing 737 to Kochi meant that the situation was brought under control without any reported casualties. Further technical checks would be required to determine the exact cause of the engine oil loss and ensure the aircraft is fit for subsequent operations.
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