An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Goa was forced to make an emergency landing in Mumbai on Wednesday night. The pilot had reported an issue with one of the engines mid-air. The flight, numbered 6E6271, was an Airbus A320neo carrying 191 passengers. The emergency was declared at 9:27 p.m. when the aircraft was approximately 100 nautical miles north of Bhubaneswar. The pilot made a ‘PAN-PAN-PAN’ call and landed the plane safely at Mumbai airport by 9:53 p.m. All passengers were safe.
What is ‘PAN-PAN’ Code?
‘PAN-PAN,’ pronounced ‘Pahn-Pahn,’ is an international radio call used by pilots to signal an urgent situation that requires attention but is not immediately life-threatening. It comes from the French word ‘panne,’ meaning a breakdown. Declaring ‘PAN-PAN’ three times alerts air traffic control and nearby aircraft that the flight needs priority handling, such as a diversion or quick landing. It’s one step below ‘Mayday’ and is part of a formal aviation emergency procedure to keep control while ensuring safety.
