Kochi-Abu Dhabi Air India Express flight returns 'Oil Drop'

An Abu Dhabi-bound Air India Express Boeing 737 returned to Kochi after the crew detected a rapid drop in Engine 1 oil quantity and later shut down the engine when its oil pressure entered the danger zone, according to news agency.

Flight IX 415 was around 50 minutes into its journey and cruising at 36,000 feet when the pilots noticed the oil quantity in Engine 1 falling rapidly.

The crew carried out a FORDEC assessment as the oil level continued



to drop and decided to abandon the Abu Dhabi sector and return to Kochi.

The commander informed air traffic control about the decision to turn back, while the pilots continued monitoring the engine parameters during the diversion.

Around 45 minutes after the aircraft turned back, Engine 1 oil pressure began fluctuating and entered the red zone on the cockpit gauge. The crew then followed the aircraft’s Non-Normal Checklist and shut down the engine.