An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Goa was forced to make an emergency landing in Mumbai on Wednesday night after the pilot reported a problem with one of the aircraft’s engines mid-air. The flight, numbered 6E 6271, was an Airbus A320neo which had 191 passengers on board. It safely landed at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 9:53 pm.
Pilot’s distress call before emergency landing
Officials said the pilot made a “PAN PAN PAN” emergency call at around 9:27 pm, when the aircraft was about 100 nautical miles north of Bhubaneswar. This call was made after the pilot detected a malfunction in engine number 1.
Airport authorities immediately placed fire engines and ambulances on standby, following standard safety procedures. Emergency services followed the aircraft as it taxied to its parking bay after landing.
What does ‘PAN PAN PAN’ mean?
‘PAN PAN’ alert is basically a standard emergency signal used by pilots and marinrs which tells air traffic controllers and ground staff that there is a serious issue on board, but it’s not life-threatening. It means the crew needs help, but it’s not as urgent as a full emergency like a ‘Mayday’ call.
Pilots use this signal for problems such as an engine issue, probably a sick passenger, low fuel, or a technical snag. In this specific case, the IndiGo pilot used it because of a problem with one of the engines. The situation needed quick action which is why there was an emergency landing, but the flight was not in immediate danger.
The word ‘PAN’ is repeated three times to make sure there’s no confusion and the message is clearly understood.
Last week, a Delhi-bound SpiceJet flight from Pune was forced to abort just before takeoff because of a technical problem. Passengers said the flight was supposed to leave at 12 noon on July 13, but it finally took off at around 9:05 pm, which was over nine hours late.