'PAN PAN': Pilot's call before IndiGo flight's emergency landing at Mumbai airport

The flight, an Airbus A320 Neo aircraft, landed safely at 9.53pm in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. (Courtesy: File photo for representation)

The pilot of the Goa-bound IndiGo flight declared 'PAN-PAN' just before making an emergency landing in Mumbai on Wednesday night.

Flight 6E-6271, which took off from Delhi with 191 people onboard, was diverted to Mumbai due to mid-air engine failure. According to a report in Hindustan Times, the incident happened when the flight was flying about 100 nautical miles north of Bhubaneswar.

The IndiGo flight, an Airbus A320 Neo aircraft, landed safely at 9.53pm in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.

One of the engines reportedly suffered a malfunction. "The pilot declared 'PAN PAN PAN' (an urgent message indicating a non-life-threatening emergency) due to a malfunction in engine number 1," HT said in its report quoting an official.

Releasing a statement, IndiGo said that a technical snag forced the aircraft to be diverted to Mumbai. "Full emergency was declared for IndiGo flight 6E-6271, operating on Delhi-Goa route after it was diverted to Mumbai due to one engine failure," news agency PTI quoted a source as saying.

"A technical snag was detected on flight 6E 6271 while flying from Delhi to Manohar International Airport, Goa on July 16. Following procedures, the aircraft was diverted and landed at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai," the IndiGo spokesperson said.

A technical snag was detected on flight 6E 6271 while flying from Delhi to Manohar International Airport, Goa. Following procedures, the aircraft was diverted and landed at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai. While the aircraft will undergo necessary checks… pic.twitter.com/WobeXSXRSh

— ANI (@ANI) July 16, 2025

The flight crew requested a diversion to Mumbai around 9.32pm. "It was then that, as per the SOP, an ambulance as well as fire tenders were on standby and followed the aircraft till the bay. The aircraft, however, landed safely at 9.53 pm," a second official said.

All passengers and crew members are reported to be safe.

"While the aircraft will undergo necessary checks and maintenance before resuming operations, an alternative aircraft has been arranged for completing the journey, which will depart shortly with the customers," the Indigo spokesperson added.

Short for 'possible assistance needed' or 'pay attention now', 'PAN-PAN' is used by pilots to communicate an urgent situation to air traffic control. A PAN-PAN is used for serious but not life-threatening situations that the flight crew can handle with time to troubleshoot, assisted by priority from air traffic control.

A radiotelephony message, PAN-PAN is distinct from a Mayday call (distress signal), which means that there is imminent danger to life or to the continued viability of the vessel itself.

The caller usually repeats 'PAN PAN' thrice to declare it correctly.