New Delhi: An IndiGo flight carrying 160 passengers from Visakhapatnam was forced to make an emergency landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport on Saturday following a mid-air engine failure, according to aviation sources.

The aircraft, a Boeing 737, prompted a "full emergency" declaration at the capital’s airport at 10:39 a.m. after reports surfaced that one of its engines had ceased to function. Ground services were placed on high alert as flight 6E 579 prepared for its arrival.

"Full emergency was declared at Indira Gandhi International Airport at 10.39 for IndiGo Visakhapatnam-Delhi flight 6E 579 due to one engine failure," a source confirmed.

Safe Landing and Standard Protocols

Data from the flight-tracking website Flightradar24.com indicates the plane touched down safely at 10:59 a.m. Following the landing, IndiGo released a statement characterising the incident as a "technical snag" that was identified just before the descent into Delhi.

The airline emphasised that the pilots followed established safety procedures to ensure a secure arrival. "As a precautionary step and in accordance with the standard operating procedure, the pilots requested for priority landing, and the aircraft arrived safely at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi," an IndiGo spokesperson said.

Ongoing Investigation

The carrier noted that all relevant regulatory and airport authorities were notified immediately. The Boeing 737—part of a fleet of aircraft recently wet-leased from Turkey’s Corendon Airlines to meet domestic demand—has been grounded for a comprehensive technical evaluation.

"All relevant authorities were promptly informed, and the aircraft is undergoing necessary checks and maintenance," the spokesperson added.

While the incident caused temporary concern on the tarmac, no injuries were reported among the 160 passengers or the crew. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is expected to conduct a routine inquiry into the cause of the engine shutdown.

With inputs from PTI