Air India Delhi-Mumbai flight returns to airport after engine oil pressure drops to zero

An Air India Delhi-Mumbai flight was forced to return to the national capital shortly after take-off on Monday after the crew detected a critical drop in engine oil pressure on the aircraft’s right-hand engine, prompting an immediate safety response mid-air.

Flight AI887, operated by a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, departed from Indira Gandhi International Airport at 3.20 am. During flap retraction after take-off, the pilots observed abnormally low oil pressure on the second engine (right-hand engine). Shortly thereafter, the oil pressure dropped to zero.

Following standard operating procedures, the flight crew shut down Engine No 2 and decided to return to Delhi, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a statement. The aircraft landed safely, and all passengers and crew disembarked normally. No injuries were reported.

In aviation terms, a drop in engine oil pressure to zero is treated as a serious safety concern, as oil is essential to keep engine components cool and functioning smoothly. Inadequate oil pressure can lead to rapid overheating and, in extreme cases, engine failure or fire.

The DGCA said it has taken note of the incident and confirmed that the crew followed laid-down procedures.

“Today, Air India B777-300ER aircraft VT-ALS operating flight AIC 887 (Delhi–Mumbai) was involved in an air turnback. During flap retraction after take-off, the flight crew observed low engine oil pressure on Engine No 2 (right-hand engine).

Shortly thereafter, the engine oil pressure dropped to zero. Following procedure, the crew shut down the No 2 engine and the aircraft landed safely at Delhi. Inspection and rectification are in progress,” the DGCA said in a statement.

The aviation regulator added that the incident will be investigated by the airline’s Permanent Investigation Board under the supervision of the Director of Air Safety (Northern Region), DGCA.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation said it has taken note of the incident and sought a detailed report from Air India. In a post on X, the ministry said the DGCA has been directed to conduct a thorough investigation into the technical issue.

The ministry also directed the airline to extend all assistance to passengers and accommodate them on subsequent flights, stressing that passenger safety remains paramount.