AI Express Delhi-Indore flight suffers engine fault, pilot makes emergency call; plane lands safely
Indore (PTI): A Delhi-Indore Air India Express flight with 161 passengers on board on Friday suffered an engine fault during its descent at the airport here, prompting the pilot to make a 'PAN-PAN' call for non-life threatening emergency, but the aircraft landed safely soon afterwards, officials said.
The plane landed 20 minutes behind its schedule at the Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport soon after a suspected oil filter issue was detected mid-air, and everyone on board was safe, they said.
"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," Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport's Director Vipinkant Seth told PTI.
The crew members of the flight - IX 1028 - and all 161 passengers are completely safe, he said.
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).
Talking about the incident, a spokesperson of Air India Express 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."
'PAN-PAN' is an internationally valid signal used in maritime and air radio communication. In aviation, it indicates an urgent situation that requires 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'.
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Road crash in UP leaves 10 dead
Lakhimpur Kheri (UP) (PTI): Ten people were killed when a van collided head-on with a truck on the Sisaiya-Lakhimpur national highway on Monday, police said.
The van was going to Sisaiya from Lakhimpur when the accident took place between Unchgaon and Bharehta villages.
Circle Officer of Dhaurahra, Shamsher Bahadur Singh, said all nine passengers travelling in the van and the driver were killed.
District Magistrate of Lakhimpur Kheri Anjani Kumar Singh told reporters that the van collided with a truck coming from the opposite direction, leading to nine casualties on the spot, while one succumbed to injuries at the district hospital.
Circle Officer, Dhaurahra, Shamsher Bahadur Singh told PTI, "Efforts are on to establish the identity of other deceased persons."
The seven of the deceased have been identified as Jaideep Singh (25), Pawan (23), Sohan (21), Ram Goyal (42), Sahajram (35), Pappu (18), all residents of Bahraich district and Adnan Khan (15), a resident of Lakhimpur Kheri district, police said.
Condoling the loss of lives in the accident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in a post on X, said, "The loss of life in the unfortunate road accident in Lakhimpur Kheri district is deeply distressing and heart-wrenching. My condolences are with the bereaved families."
"I have directed the local administration to provide prompt and adequate assistance to the injured and the victims. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant the departed souls a place at His divine feet and to bestow a speedy recovery upon the injured," Adityanath said on X.
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak too condoled the loss of lives in the accident.
"The loss of lives resulting from the road accident in Lakhimpur Kheri district is deeply tragic and heart-wrenching. My deepest condolences go out to the bereaved families," Maurya said.
