India
-Ashish Rana
An Air India flight from Bengaluru to Delhi declared a full emergency at Indira Gandhi International Airport after a suspected engine fire on 21 May 2026. The Airbus A320, operating as AI 2802 with 171 passengers, landed safely on runway 29R at about 9.30 pm.
On May 21, 2026, Air India flight AI 2802 from Bengaluru to Delhi landed safely with 171 passengers after declaring an engine fire emergency; regulators are investigating this and a separate tail strike incident on flight AI 2651.
Airport officials said the aircraft stopped on the runway and was later towed away for checks. Operations on runway 29R resumed at 10.18 pm after safety inspections. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew, and disembarkation took place in an orderly manner.
Air India flight safety: airline details engine fire warning and crew response
Air India stated that the cockpit crew received a fire warning from one engine during the final approach to Delhi. The alert was later confirmed as a genuine warning. The crew then carried out standard operating procedures and completed the landing without further incident.
The airline added that all on board exited the aircraft normally using regular exits. Engineering teams began examining the Airbus A320 after it was moved from the runway. Preliminary checks focused on the affected engine and related systems, according to people aware of the post-landing process.
Air India flight investigation: airline launches probe with regulators
In an official statement, the airline said, “Air India is immediately initiating a full investigation into the cause of the incident in coordination with the relevant regulatory authorities. We are committed to sharing further verified information as soon as it becomes available. The safety of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority,” it further said.
An earlier comment from an Air India spokesperson noted awareness of the situation involving the Bengaluru–Delhi service. The spokesperson said, “We are aware of an incident involving flight AI2802 operating from Bengaluru to Delhi on 21 May 2026. The aircraft landed safely and all passengers and crew are safe. “
| Flight | Route | Aircraft | Passengers | Incident | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI 2802 | Bengaluru–Delhi | Airbus A320 | 171 | Engine fire warning | Landed safely; runway reopened at 10.18 pm |
| AI 2651 | Delhi–Bengaluru | Airbus A321 | 181 | Tail strike on landing | Landed safely; aircraft grounded for checks |
The spokesperson added, “We are currently gathering additional information and are working closely with the relevant authorities. Further updates will be shared as more details become available.” Both statements underlined that cooperation with regulatory bodies would guide next steps after the incident near Delhi.
Air India flight from Delhi earlier had separate tail-strike incident
The evening emergency followed another safety event for Air India on the same day. A narrow-body A321 aircraft operating flight AI 2651 from Delhi to Bengaluru with 181 passengers experienced a tail incident while landing at Bengaluru airport on Thursday morning.
An Air India spokesperson said the aircraft “experienced a tail-strike during landing”. The plane still completed the landing safely, and all passengers and crew disembarked without any reported injuries. The airline grounded the A321 afterwards for a detailed technical inspection and further assessment by engineering teams.
Both Air India events ended without injuries, but triggered detailed checks and investigations. Regulators and airline officials are now examining the suspected engine fire in Delhi and the tail strike in Bengaluru to determine causes and confirm whether any further safety measures are needed.
