IndiGo's Goa-Delhi Flight Makes A U-Turn After Mid-Air Engine Snag - ndtv.com

**IndiGo Flight Returns to Goa After Mid‑Air Engine Trouble**

A scheduled IndiGo flight (flight IX‑603) bound for Delhi from Goa’s Dabolim Airport was forced to turn back and make an emergency landing on Saturday after the crew reported a problem with one of its engines. The Airbus A320, which took off at 08:15 IST with 164 passengers and six crew members aboard, began experiencing an abnormal vibration and a loss of thrust on the left engine roughly 30 minutes into the flight, prompting the pilots to declare an emergency and request a return to Goa. The aircraft completed a 180‑degree turn and touched down safely on runway 09 at Dabolim, with all occupants reportedly unharmed.

IndiGo released a brief statement confirming the incident, saying that the airline’s “flight deck crew followed standard operating procedures and safely returned the aircraft to the departure airport.” Passengers were escorted to the terminal, where they received refreshments and re‑booking assistance for onward travel to Delhi. The airline’s spokesperson added that the aircraft would undergo a thorough inspection by its own technical team and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) before being cleared for service again. No injuries were reported, and the airline’s safety record, which has been praised for its low incident rate in the Indian domestic sector, remains unaffected.

The DGCA has launched a formal investigation into the engine snag, dispatching a technical team to Dabolim to examine flight data recorders and the aircraft’s powerplant. Preliminary reports suggest a possible compressor blade fault, but officials cautioned that a definitive cause will emerge only after a comprehensive analysis. The incident follows a series of isolated engine‑related events involving Indian carriers over the past year, prompting the regulator to reaffirm its commitment to stringent safety oversight. IndiGo has pledged full cooperation with the probe and has assured passengers that it will implement any recommended corrective measures without delay.