No fatalities

Engine failure leads to ditching near Cochin (IN132)

Cochin, IndiaFlight

On December 9, 1987, a Britten-Norman Islander (registration IN132) operated by Indian Navy - Bharatiya Nau Sena was involved in an aviation accident near Cochin, India in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The engine lost power during flight for reasons that have not yet been established. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 6 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards

A maritime patrol aircraft was forced to ditch in the sea off the coast of Cochin following an engine power loss.

What happened

During a scheduled maritime patrol mission, the crew experienced a sudden loss of power in one of the engines while airborne. Due to the mechanical failure, the pilot was unable to maintain altitude and proceeded to perform a controlled ditching in the water a few kilometers from the Cochin coastline.

Following the impact with the sea, all three occupants managed to evacuate the aircraft type successfully without sustaining injuries. While the crew survived the incident, the aircraft subsequently sank into the ocean and is considered a total loss.

Findings

Investigations into the incident focused on the sudden mechanical failure during the flight phase. The primary factor identified was the loss of engine power, though the specific underlying reason for this failure remains undetermined.

Probable cause

The engine lost power during flight for reasons that have not yet been established.