NEW DELHI: An Air India flight from Mumbai returned to Bengaluru shortly after take-off on Thursday after one of its engines stopped, prompting pilots to issue a ‘PAN PAN’ emergency call, officials familiar with the matter said.
The incident involved flight AI 2812, an Airbus A320neo, which was originally scheduled to depart Mumbai at 2:05 am. Officials said the plane took off around 2:30 a.m. but returned to the airport within minutes.
Passengers reported hearing a loud noise and seeing sparks during takeoff. “A sound was heard and sparks were seen during take-off. The pilot announced PAN PAN and returned to the airport within minutes,” said an official who requested anonymity.
The official added: “It later became clear that the second engine had stopped.”
But an Air India spokesperson described it as a precautionary return. “Flight AI 2812 from Mumbai to Bengaluru on April 9 returned to Mumbai soon after take-off as a precautionary measure due to a suspected technical issue, as per standard operating procedures. The aircraft landed safely and is undergoing detailed technical checks,” the spokesperson said.
An airport official said that a local state of preparedness was declared before the plane landed safely.
The airline said assistance was provided to passengers and an alternative aircraft was arranged. “We regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers. Our teams at Mumbai airport provided immediate assistance, and an alternative aircraft has been arranged to operate the flight. The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew remains our top priority,” the spokesperson added.
Officials said that the plane, which was carrying 47 passengers, stopped flying after the accident. An official said: “An alternative plane was arranged and departed at around 4.45am.”
