Air India Express Kochi-Abu Dhabi Flight IX 415 Returns Safely After Engine Oil Drops Mid-Air
An Abu Dhabi-bound Air India Express flight returned safely to Cochin International Airport after experiencing a sudden mid-air loss of engine oil pressure. The Boeing 737, operating flight IX 415, was cruising at 36,000 feet when flight crew detected a technical anomaly in one of its engines, prompting an immediate decision to abort the journey.
An Air India Express flight bound for Abu Dhabi was forced to return to Kochi on Monday after the crew detected a rapid drop in the oil quantity of one of the aircraft's engines during the flight, prompting them to shut down the affected engine as a safety measure, according to a report.
The Boeing 737, operating as flight IX 415 from Cochin International Airport to Abu Dhabi, landed safely back in Kochi after the crew decided to abandon the onward journey. Air India Express Flight AIX 1253 Diverted to Lucknow After Smoke Alert, 155 Passengers and Crew Safe.
Engine oil quantity drops during flight
The aircraft had been in the air for around 50 minutes and was flying at an altitude of about 36,000 feet when the pilots noticed that the oil quantity in Engine 1 was falling rapidly, according to reports. The crew carried out a safety assessment as the oil level continued to decline. When the engine's oil pressure entered the danger zone, the pilots shut down the engine and initiated a return to Kochi.
Aircraft lands safely in Kochi
The aircraft returned safely to Cochin International Airport after the crew took the precautionary decision to discontinue the flight to Abu Dhabi. The incident highlighted the crew's response to the technical warning and the importance of monitoring aircraft systems during flight. No immediate reports of injuries were available. Air India and Air India Express Raise Pilot Salaries by up to 15%; Check Details.
Technical inspection expected
The aircraft is expected to undergo a detailed technical inspection to determine what caused the rapid drop in engine oil quantity and the subsequent low oil pressure warning. Further details regarding the technical issue, as well as arrangements for passengers travelling to Abu Dhabi, were not immediately available.
Recent technical incidents involving Air India Express
The incident comes days after another Air India Express flight travelling from Varanasi to Delhi was diverted to Lucknow following a technical issue involving a cargo hold smoke detection alarm. Airlines routinely divert or return flights when technical warnings are detected as a precaution to ensure the safety of passengers and crew. The exact cause of the engine oil issue on flight IX 415 is expected to be determined after technical checks.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 07, 2026 12:16 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
