Mumbai, July 17: An IndiGo flight (6E 6271) en route from Delhi to Goa was forced to make an emergency landing at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Wednesday night due to a technical issue in one of its engines. The flight, an Airbus A320neo carrying 191 passengers, landed safely at 9:53 PM, according to officials.
The incident occurred around 9:27 PM, when the aircraft was approximately 100 nautical miles north of Bhubaneswar. In response to the malfunction in engine number 1, the pilot issued a ‘PAN PAN PAN’ alert, indicating a serious but non-life-threatening emergency.
What Is ‘PAN PAN PAN’?
The ‘PAN’ call is a standard urgency signal used in aviation and maritime communication. Unlike the more critical ‘Mayday’ call, which signals imminent danger to life or the aircraft, a PAN alert is used when the situation requires urgent attention but does not pose an immediate threat.
Typical scenarios for a PAN call include:
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Partial engine failure
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Medical emergencies onboard
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Low fuel levels
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Non-critical mechanical faults
The call is repeated three times — “PAN PAN PAN” — to ensure clarity and prevent miscommunication during emergencies.
IndiGo’s Official Statement
In a statement issued following the incident, IndiGo confirmed the aircraft was diverted to Mumbai due to a technical snag:
“A technical snag was detected on flight 6E 6271 while flying from Delhi to Manohar International Airport, Goa on 16 July 2025. Following procedures, the aircraft was diverted and landed in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai.”
Emergency response services, including ambulances and fire tenders, were deployed and on standby, following standard operating procedures, an airport official added.
No injuries were reported, and all passengers were safely disembarked. Further inspections are underway to assess the aircraft’s technical condition.
