DELHI- Air India (AI) declared a full emergency on Thursday night after its Bengaluru (BLR) to Delhi (DEL) flight received an engine fire warning on final approach. The Airbus A320, operating as flight AI 2802, landed safely at Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) on runway 29R at 9:30 pm local time on May 21, 2026.
All 180 passengers and crew on board the aircraft disembarked safely. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched a formal investigation into the incident, while Air India (AI) confirmed it is conducting a full internal probe in coordination with regulatory authorities.
Air India Flight Faces Engine Fire
The cockpit crew of Air India (AI) flight AI 2802 received a fire indication from one of the aircraft’s engines during the final approach phase into Delhi (DEL).
Cockpit sources confirmed that the warning was validated as a true alert rather than a system malfunction, prompting the pilots to declare a full emergency with air traffic control.
The flight crew followed standard operating procedures for an engine fire emergency and continued the approach to Delhi (DEL). The Airbus A320, bearing registration VT-CIO, touched down on runway 29R without further incident. Ground reports indicate the fire indication ceased after the aircraft came to a stop on the runway.
Airport operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) were temporarily suspended following the landing to allow emergency response teams to access the aircraft. The A321 was subsequently towed off the active runway, and passengers were disembarked using ground equipment rather than a regular jet bridge connection.
Aircraft Details and Fleet Information
The aircraft involved in the incident is an Airbus A320 narrowbody jet registered as VT-CIO. The A321 forms a core part of Air India’s (AI) domestic and short-haul international fleet, frequently deployed on high-density trunk routes such as Bengaluru (BLR) to Delhi (DEL).
The Bengaluru to Delhi sector is among the busiest air corridors in India, served by multiple daily frequencies from Air India (AI), IndiGo (6E), and other domestic carriers.
Flight AI 2802 operates as a scheduled evening departure from Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) to Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL).
Airline Statement on the Incident
Air India (AI) issued an official statement confirming the sequence of events. The carrier stated that the cockpit crew received a fire indication from one of the engines during the final approach into Delhi (DEL), and the indication was subsequently confirmed as accurate.
The airline emphasized that the flight crew adhered to all standard operating procedures throughout the emergency. Air India (AI) confirmed that all passengers and crew disembarked normally after the safe landing at Delhi (DEL) airport.
An Air India (AI) spokesperson added that the airline is immediately initiating a full investigation into the cause of the incident in coordination with the relevant regulatory authorities. The carrier stated that it remains committed to sharing further verified information as soon as it becomes available, adding that the safety of passengers and crew remains its highest priority.
DGCA Investigation Underway
A team from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has begun a formal probe into the engine fire warning incident.
The investigation will examine the engine performance data, flight data recorder information, and cockpit voice recorder content to determine the root cause of the fire indication.
Indian aviation regulations require detailed reporting on any incident involving an engine fire warning, regardless of whether the warning is later traced to an actual fire or a sensor malfunction. The probe will also assess the crew’s response procedures and the post-landing handling of the aircraft.
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