From Mayday to no emergency: How Air India flight returned to Delhi over fire alarm; shortly after take-off

NEW DELHI: The Delhi-Indore Air India flight that returned to the national capital shortly after take-off over a fire indication on Sunday had initially issued a Mayday distress call, only to later downgraded it to PAN-PAN, signaling urgency without declaring a full emergency, Air India spokesperson said.

Air India spokesperson, however, clarified that the flight did not make any emergency landing in Delhi.

"Flight AI2913, operating from Delhi to Indore on 31 August, air-returned to Delhi shortly after take-off, as the cockpit crew received a fire indication for the right engine. Following standard procedure, the cockpit crew elected to shut down the engine and returned to Delhi where the flight landed safely," Air India spokesperson said.

"The crew had initially made a MAYDAY call to the air traffic control, but later downgraded it to PAN-PAN to indicate urgency rather than an emergency. We confirm that the flight did not make an emergency landing at Delhi," they added.