IndiGo flight 6E 6271 was forced to make a safe emergency landing in Mumbai due to an engine malfunction. The pilot signaled distress by declaring 'PAN PAN PAN'.
IndiGo: IndiGo flight 6E 6271, en route from Delhi to Goa, faced an emergency situation when a technical fault occurred in one of its engines while in the air. The pilot, acting with caution, diverted the aircraft towards Mumbai Airport and announced 'PAN PAN PAN'. Following this, the aircraft was safely landed at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 9:53 PM.
191 People on Board
A total of 191 passengers were on board this flight, which had taken off from Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi and was heading towards Manohar International Airport in Goa. The aircraft was an Airbus A320neo model, a modern and frequently used aircraft in IndiGo's fleet. While there was certainly some commotion among the passengers during the incident, the alertness of the pilot and cabin crew prevented any kind of chaos.
What is 'PAN PAN PAN' and what does it mean?
During the technical problem in the flight, the pilot repeated the word 'PAN PAN PAN' three times, which is an international aviation signal. This signal is given when the aircraft needs urgent assistance, but the situation is not considered an immediate threat to life.
It is an emergency notification one level below 'Mayday'.
- Mayday is used in life-threatening emergency situations
- PAN PAN is used when the situation could be serious but there is no immediate threat to life
Technical Fault in Engine Number-1
Mumbai Airport authorities have confirmed that the problem arose when the flight was flying approximately 100 nautical miles north of Mumbai. Upon detecting a possible technical fault in engine number-1, the pilot informed ATC (Air Traffic Control) with the 'PAN PAN PAN' signal and diverted the aircraft to Mumbai under SOP (Standard Operating Procedure).
Timely Decision Taken
According to an official statement issued by IndiGo, 'A technical problem occurred on our flight number 6E 6271 from Delhi to Goa on July 16 during the flight. Following all procedures, the pilot diverted the aircraft to Mumbai and the aircraft was safely landed. The safety of passengers and crew is our top priority.'
Fire Tenders and Ambulances Already Deployed at the Airport
When the aircraft requested permission to land at Mumbai Airport, fire tenders and ambulances were already on standby from 9:32 PM. Under SOP, as soon as the aircraft landed, it was escorted from the runway to the taxiway. The relief was that no passengers were injured, nor was any medical emergency required.
Passengers Faced Minor Inconvenience, but Everyone Safe
Passengers certainly faced some inconvenience due to the emergency landing, but the biggest relief was that all passengers were completely safe. IndiGo Airlines managed the situation and made alternative arrangements and helped the passengers. Some passengers were sent to Goa on another flight, while others chose to stay in Mumbai. The airline staff provided all possible assistance to the passengers so that their journey would remain safe and smooth going forward.
DGCA Initiates Preliminary Investigation
Immediately after the incident, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered an investigation. The DGCA is trying to understand the cause of the engine failure—whether it was a technical fault, a manufacturing defect, or a lapse during maintenance. For this, a complete report has been sought from IndiGo Airlines to prevent such incidents in the future and to ensure the safety of passengers.
