What Is a PAN-PAN Emergency? IndiGo’s Mid-Air Scare Explained

IndiGo's Airbus A320neo took off from Delhi to Goa on July 16, 2025, with 191 souls aboard

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About 100 nautical miles north of Bhubaneswar, the aircraft experienced trouble in engine number 1

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At around 9:27 PM IST, the pilot declared “PAN PAN PAN”, signaling an urgent but non‑life‑threatening issue.

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Derived from French panne (“breakdown”), PAN‑PAN alerts ATC of an urgent technical problem—one step below “Mayday”

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Unlike a “Mayday” (which signals imminent danger), PAN‑PAN indicates manageable emergencies needing attention

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Following procedure, the crew diverted to Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji airport for a precautionary landing

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IndiGo confirmed a technical snag, and the aircraft underwent a full system inspection before being restored to service

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