Passengers onboard an Air India flight from Mumbai to Bengaluru had a tense start to their journey early Thursday after pilots issued a “PAN PAN” emergency call following a mid-air engine issue, forcing the aircraft to return to base shortly after take-off, sources said.The incident involved flight AI 2812, operated by an Airbus A320 Neo aircraft, which departed from Mumbai around 2.15 am, slightly behind its scheduled departure of 2.05 am. Within minutes of take-off, the crew reported a technical snag after one of the engines showed signs of failure.Sources said passengers experienced an unusual situation during take-off, with some reporting water ingress inside the cabin. Eyewitness accounts also mentioned a loud noise accompanied by sparks during the aircraft’s ascent, raising alarm among those onboard.Following standard aviation safety protocol, the pilots issued a “PAN PAN” call, a signal indicating urgency but not immediate danger, and initiated a return to Mumbai. The aircraft landed safely around 2.35 am. Preliminary inputs suggest that one engine had stalled mid-air, prompting the precautionary turnaround.The airline’s spokesperson confirmed the development, stating that the flight returned to Mumbai shortly after departure due to a suspected technical issue. The airline said the aircraft landed safely and was currently undergoing detailed technical checks as per safety procedures.The airline also said arrangements were made to minimise inconvenience to passengers. Ground teams at Mumbai airport assisted travellers, and an alternative aircraft was deployed to operate the onward journey to Bengaluru.In a separate development, a minor fire incident was reported at Terminal 1 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Thursday evening. According to airport authorities, the fire broke out due to a short circuit around 6.10 pm and was quickly brought under control by emergency response teams.