Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Air India pilot delayed 'PAN PAN' call over an hour
An Air India plane flew from Phuket to Delhi carrying passengers.
The pilot of the plane did not ask for help right away when there was a problem.
Pilots use a special word, 'PAN PAN', when they need to tell air traffic control about an issue and get extra help.
According to the people who guide planes in Delhi, the pilot waited more than one hour to make this call.
Those same airport workers already knew that some passengers were hurt before the pilot called for help.
Now, a team called the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is looking into what happened.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation, a part of the government, asked this team to hurry and share their first report faster than the usual one-month timeline.
The ministry also told Air India to make its work culture better for its employees.
Everyone wants to understand what happened so that future flights can be safer.
Air India flight AI2379's pilot reportedly sat on a 'PAN PAN' distress call for over an hour, according to ATC sources.
Delhi ATC had already received information about passenger injuries before the pilot's own PAN PAN call came through.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is investigating the AI2379 case.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation directed AAIB to expedite the probe and release a preliminary report ahead of the standard 1-month timeline.
MoCA also asked Air India to improve its internal work culture.
- Who
- The unnamed pilot of Air India flight AI2379, Delhi air traffic control, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), and the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA).
- What
- The pilot reportedly sat on the 'PAN PAN' distress call for over an hour, while Delhi ATC had already received information about passenger injuries; the case is under investigation.
- When
- Not specified in the article.
- Where
- On Air India flight AI2379 flying from Phuket to Delhi, India, in communication with Delhi ATC.
- Why
- AAIB is investigating the incident after MoCA directed an expedited probe and asked Air India to improve its internal work culture.
- Airline
- Air India
- Flight
- AI2379
- Route
- Phuket to Delhi
- Reported Issue
- Pilot sat on 'PAN PAN' call for over an hour, per ATC sources
- Key Detail
- Delhi ATC had received information about passenger injuries before the pilot's PAN PAN call
- Investigating Body
- Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB)
- MoCA Direction
- Expedite probe and release preliminary report ahead of the standard 1-month timeline
- Additional Direction
- Air India asked to improve internal work culture