SIX AIRCRAFT ENGINE SHUTDOWN INCIDENTS REPORTED THIS YEAR

1. Overview: Incidents Reported in 2025

Six engine shutdowns have been recorded.

IndiGo: 2 incidents

SpiceJet: 2 incidents

Air India: 1 incident

Alliance Air: 1 incident

Three Mayday calls, signalling life‑threatening emergencies, were placed:

One involved the Air India Flight AI 171, which tragically crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12 into a building.
The other two were from IndiGo and Air India Express respectively

2. Context: Broader Trends in Indian Aviation

According to DGCA and RTI‑related data:

65 in‑flight engine shutdowns have occurred across 2020–25.

11 Mayday calls were placed during the past 17 months (from early 2024 through mid‑2025).
Experts say most engine shutdowns stem from fuel contamination, foreign object ingestion, blocked filters, or fuel‑system interruptions.
While global standards permit single‑engine operations when necessary, the simultaneous failure of both engines as suspected in the AI 171 accident is extremely rare.

3. AI 171 Crash: What We Know So Far

On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI 171 crashed moments after take‑off from Ahmedabad, killing at least 260 people (241 on board and 19 on the ground).
Preliminary AAIB findings (released July 12) revealed both fuel‑cutoff switches were moved to off during ascent, starving both engines of fuel.
AAIB is considering all angles, including potential pilot error, mechanical failure, or sabotage. The black boxes are under analysis in India, and results are awaited.

Meanwhile, DGCA issued directives for enhanced pre‑flight inspections of fuel control systems across Boeing 787 and certain B737 aircraft compliance was required by July 21, 2025.

4. Systemic Safety Issues: Enforcement and Oversight

DGCA’s annual audit flagged 51 safety lapses at Air India alone, including outdated training manuals, incomplete pilot training, unqualified simulators, and irregular low‑visibility approvals. Seven were marked critical. Deadlines for fixes were July 30 and August 23, 2025, respectively.

Safety enforcement during this period coincided with wider scrutiny on Air India’s compliance with international advisories some previous FAA bulletins had not been implemented by the airline.

5. Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol’s Comments

Minister Mohol confirmed that these figures six engine shutdowns and three Mayday calls are based on written replies in the Rajya Sabha, covering January July 2025.

He emphasised that the AI 171 crash investigation is ongoing, with no conclusions drawn yet in the preliminary AAIB report released on July 12. He affirmed that every angle is being investigated, including sabotage.

6. Assessment: What It All Means

Although engine shutdown events are not uncommon globally, the number reported in India 65 over five years suggests a persistent pattern, even if most flights landed safely.

The AI 171 crash was unprecedented in that both engines failed nearly simultaneously, potentially due to fuel cutoff switches being flipped. That scenario is extraordinarily rare and under intense scrutiny.

Ongoing DGCA oversight, mandatory inspections, and regulatory enforcement indicate heightened seriousness but also expose institutional weaknesses across training, maintenance, and compliance functions.