Air India’s Bengaluru–Delhi Flight Declares Emergency At IGI After Engine Fire Warning

According to Air India’s clarification, the cockpit crew received a fire indication from one of the engines while the aircraft was on its final approach into Delhi. The indication was later confirmed as a genuine warning, prompting the pilots to declare a full emergency in line with standard operating procedures and prioritise an immediate landing. Runway operations were briefly suspended and resumed at about 10:18 pm after the aircraft was towed away and safety checks were completed.

What Prompted The Emergency Declaration

Air India stated that the fire alert in one engine during approach triggered the emergency protocol. Once the indication was confirmed as true, the crew followed established checklists, completed the approach and landed the aircraft safely in Delhi. Aviation sources quoted in media reports said the pilots acted correctly by declaring a full emergency to ensure that firefighting and rescue services were on standby.

Airline’s Clarification And Safety Assurances

In its detailed statement, Air India emphasised that all passengers and crew on AI 2802 were safe and disembarked normally via standard exits after landing. The airline said it is initiating a full investigation into the cause of the incident in coordination with regulators and engineering teams, including detailed checks of the affected engine and related systems. The carrier reiterated that “the safety of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority” and pledged to share further verified information as it becomes available.

Operational Impact At Delhi Airport

The Airbus A320 was stopped on runway 29R and later towed to a bay for inspection, during which time the runway remained temporarily unavailable to other traffic. Airport officials confirmed that the full emergency status was withdrawn after the aircraft was secured and no smoke or fire was observed post-landing. Normal operations resumed once safety teams cleared the runway, limiting broader disruption at IGI.

Key Highlights

• Air India flight AI 2802 from Bengaluru to Delhi declared a full emergency on May 21 due to an engine fire warning on approach
• The Airbus A320 with about 171 passengers landed safely on runway 29R at around 9:30 pm, with no injuries reported
• Cockpit crew received and then confirmed a genuine fire indication from one engine, followed SOPs and prioritised landing
• Runway 29R was briefly closed while the aircraft was towed away and inspections were conducted; operations resumed at about 10:18 pm
• Air India has launched a detailed investigation with regulators, stressing that passenger and crew safety remains its top priority

Sources: Hindustan Times