Air India Flight Returns to New Delhi After Engine Fire Warning

DELHI- A Tata Group-owned Air India (AI) flight bound for Indore (IDR) was forced to return to Delhi (DEL) shortly after take-off on Saturday due to a fire warning in one of its engines.

Flight AI2913, operating the Delhi–Indore route, was in initial climb when the cockpit crew received a fire indication on the right engine. Following the procedure, the pilots shut down the affected engine and requested an immediate return to Delhi.

Photo: avgeekwithlens/ Harsh Tekriwal

Air India Engine Fire Warning

According to Air India, the Airbus aircraft landed safely at Delhi (DEL) after the crew initiated an air turn-back. Passengers were later re-accommodated on another aircraft to continue their journey to Indore (IDR).

The airline confirmed the incident in a statement, highlighting that the crew acted in line with safety protocols. The aircraft has been grounded pending a detailed technical inspection to determine the cause of the fire warning.

Air India expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to travelers and emphasized that passenger and crew safety remains its highest priority.

The airline also noted that while the fire indication was received, there was no confirmation of an actual fire once the aircraft landed.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been notified and will conduct its own examination of the incident. Such reviews are standard practice when flight crews report critical alerts like fire warnings, even if they later prove to be technical faults rather than real emergencies.

The grounded aircraft is undergoing checks by Air India’s engineering team to ensure airworthiness before it is returned to service. In the meantime, passengers of AI2913 were moved to an alternative aircraft with minimal disruption to their travel plans.

Photo: L.A FLIGHTS | YouTube Channel

Similar Incident

Delta Air Lines (DL) flight DL446 from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) returned to LAX on July 18, 2025, after the crew reported an in-flight engine fire shortly after departure.

The Boeing 767 landed safely with emergency services in position. All passengers and crew members were unharmed, and the fire was confirmed extinguished upon arrival.

Flight DL446 had departed Los Angeles (LAX) en route to Atlanta (ATL) when pilots detected signs of a possible fire in the left engine.

Following standard safety procedures, the crew declared an emergency and requested immediate clearance to return. Air Traffic Control (ATC) coordinated the aircraft’s safe diversion back to LAX while mobilizing firefighting units on the ground.

According to flight data, the Boeing 767 initially climbed over the Pacific Ocean before looping back inland over the Downey and Paramount areas. This allowed the crew time to complete emergency checklists, secure the cabin, and prepare for a controlled landing.

Photo: Los Angeles World Airport

On-Ground Emergency Response

Upon touchdown, the aircraft was met by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) emergency units, including vehicles 089, 0870, and ARFF2. Fire crews inspected the left engine and confirmed that the flames were fully extinguished.

Passengers later reported that the captain assured them emergency services were “verifying that the engine fire is out” before the aircraft was towed for further checks.

Eyewitness video from the aviation channel LA Flights on YouTube documented the aircraft’s approach, showing visible flames in the left engine during the return and the coordinated response of airport emergency vehicles.

The incident aircraft was a Boeing 767-432(ER), tail number N836MH, powered by two General Electric CF6 engines. At the time of the event, it was 24.6 years old and part of Delta’s long-haul fleet.

Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.

Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News

The post Air India Flight Returns to New Delhi After Engine Fire Warning appeared first on Aviation A2Z.