Indore-Bound Air India Express Flight Makes PAN-PAN Call After Mid-Air Engine Fault

Last Updated:September 05, 2025, 17:22 IST

Air India Express flight IX 1028 gave a PAN-PAN call due to engine fault during descent at Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport; all 161 passengers and crew landed safely.

Air India Express Flight | Representative Image

An Indore-bound Air India Express flight with 161 passengers on board gave a PAN-PAN call after the pilots detected an engine fault mid-air on Friday.

The Air India Express flight IX 1028 (New Delhi to Indore) suffered an engine fault during its descent at Indore’s Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport, which prompted the pilot to make a ’PAN-PAN’ call for a non-life-threatening emergency, news agency PTI reported.

Fortunately, the flight landed safely at the airport 20 minutes behind its scheduled arrival time. All 161 passengers along with cabin crew membres on board were safe.

Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport’s Director Vipinkant Seth said that one of the aircraft’s two engines experienced a ‘technical fault’. The ground staff at the airport had taken all the precautionary measures for the aircraft to land at the airport.

Seth said that the pilot of the plane sent a ’PAN-PAN’ signal to the Air Traffic Control (ATC), after which fire and medical arrangements were made at the airport as per the standard operating procedure (SOP).

“After receiving information about a technical fault in one of the engines of the Air India Express plane coming from Delhi to Indore, we took all precautions and the aircraft landed at the Indore airport at 9.55 am. As per the schedule, it was supposed to land at 9.35 am," Seth told PTI.

Authorities said the aircraft will undergo technical checks before being cleared for further operations.

An Air India Express spokesperson said, “Due to a suspected oil filter issue during descent into Indore, following standard operating procedures, the crew landed safely. Our pilots are well-trained to carry out such precautionary measures."

Last week, an Indore-bound Air India flight AI-2913, which returned to Delhi after take-off on August 31, had initially declared a Mayday after pilots indicated a fire in the right engine of the aircraft. The crew, however, later downgraded the call to ‘PAN-PAN‘

What Is A PAN-PAN Call?

The ‘PAN-PAN’ signal (pronounced pahn-pahn), derived from the French word panne meaning “breakdown" is an internationally recognised code used in maritime and air radio communication. In aviation, it indicates an urgent situation requiring assistance but is not immediately life-threatening.

When a pilot sends a ’PAN-PAN’ signal, it means that the crew needs immediate help from ATC or ’ground service’.

(With inputs from agencies)

Shobhit Gupta

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...Read More

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...

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