Air India Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Delhi After Engine Fire Warning; All 171 Passengers Safe

A major aviation scare unfolded at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on Thursday night after an Air India flight operating from Bengaluru to Delhi declared a full emergency following a suspected engine fire during its final approach. The aircraft, carrying 171 passengers, landed safely, with all passengers and crew members reported unharmed.

The incident involved Air India flight AI 2802, an Airbus A320, which was approaching Delhi when the cockpit crew received a fire warning alert from one of the aircraft’s engines. According to Air India, the warning was later confirmed to be genuine, prompting the crew to immediately follow standard emergency operating procedures.

Despite the seriousness of the alert, the pilots successfully brought the aircraft down safely on runway 29R at Delhi airport at around 9:30 pm. Emergency services were placed on standby as part of the full emergency protocol declared at the airport. After landing, the aircraft was towed away from the runway, and all passengers and crew disembarked normally without any injuries.

Air India, in an official statement, said the cockpit crew acted in accordance with established safety procedures after receiving the warning during the final phase of the flight. The airline confirmed that everyone on board was safe and that passenger evacuation was not required.

“Air India is immediately initiating a full investigation into the cause of the incident in coordination with the relevant regulatory authorities. We are committed to sharing further verified information as soon as it becomes available. The safety of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority,” the airline said.

Earlier, the airline had issued a brief statement acknowledging the incident, saying it was gathering additional information and coordinating with relevant authorities before sharing further updates.

The emergency landing temporarily impacted airport operations, with runway 29R being occupied until the aircraft was removed. Delhi airport authorities later confirmed that runway operations resumed at 10:18 pm after the aircraft was towed away.

The incident has raised fresh concerns as it occurred on the same day that another Air India aircraft was involved in a separate operational issue. Earlier on Thursday, an Air India A321 operating flight AI 2651 from Delhi to Bengaluru experienced a tail strike during landing at Bengaluru airport. The aircraft, carrying 181 passengers, landed safely, but was subsequently grounded for detailed technical inspection.

An Air India spokesperson confirmed that the tail-strike aircraft was withdrawn from service for checks, although no injuries were reported in that incident either.

With two separate aviation incidents involving Air India aircraft on the same day, the airline now faces increased scrutiny as investigators examine the cause of both events. Aviation regulators are expected to closely review the engine fire warning incident in Delhi to determine what triggered the emergency alert and whether any technical faults contributed to the scare.