India’s aviation sector has recorded 65 in-flight engine shutdowns over the last five years and 11 Mayday calls in just the past 17 months, raising concerns over aircraft safety and operational reliability in the country.
The data, compiled from civil aviation records, highlights both mid-air and take-off engine failures. On average, at least one engine malfunction is occurring every month. Notably, these numbers do not include high-profile incidents such as the recent Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad on June 12 or a domestic IndiGo flight that was diverted due to operational issues.
In all recorded engine shutdown cases, pilots successfully managed to land the aircraft using the remaining operational engine. Aviation experts have attributed these engine failures to multiple factors, including fuel contamination, blocked fuel filters, turbine defects, and the ingestion of foreign objects into the engine during flight or taxiing.
From January 2024 to May 2025 alone, there were 11 Mayday calls made by pilots, all triggered by technical malfunctions. Four of these emergency landings took place in Hyderabad. These Mayday calls, which are issued only in situations involving critical threats such as onboard fires, engine failures, or other potentially catastrophic situations, signal an urgent need for immediate landing or grounding of the aircraft.
One notable case, an IndiGo flight on June 19 that was diverted from Guwahati to Bengaluru due to congestion and low fuel, was not counted among the 11 Mayday cases, as it did not meet the emergency threshold.
Aviation authorities maintain that comprehensive safety protocols are in place and regularly updated to ensure compliance with international standards. Regulatory directives have been issued to monitor critical systems such as fuel switch mechanisms, especially in Boeing aircraft currently operating in India.
In the wake of the June 12 crash involving an Air India Boeing 787-8, which claimed 260 lives, authorities released a preliminary investigation report that revealed the aircraft had undergone two throttle control module replacements in six years, following manufacturer guidelines issued in 2019. While the report noted that these replacements were not related to fuel control switch issues, the incident has prompted a broader safety review.
As a precautionary measure, aviation regulators have instructed all domestic airlines to inspect the fuel switch locking systems in their Boeing 737 and 787 fleets. Over 150 such aircraft are currently in operation across major Indian carriers, including Air India, Air India Express, Akasa Air, SpiceJet, and IndiGo.
While global aviation experts agree that technical failures and Mayday calls are not uncommon worldwide, the frequency of such incidents in India points to the need for ongoing scrutiny, enhanced maintenance standards, and stricter safety oversight in one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets.
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