On Jan 31st, 2025, an Avianca Airbus A320-200N, registration N942AV, operating flight AV-161 from Bogotá (Colombia) to São Paulo Guarulhos, SP (Brazil), was forced to return shortly after reaching cruise altitude following a reported engine concern.
The aircraft had just levelled off at FL350 after departure from Bogotá when the flight crew decided to discontinue the flight and initiate a descent back toward the departure airport. As the situation developed, the crew declared an emergency, coordinating closely with air traffic control to prioritize their return.
The A320neo landed safely on Bogotá’s runway 14R about 50 minutes after leaving FL350. There were no reports of injuries among passengers or crew.
Colombia’s civil aviation authority DGCA stated that the return was prompted by a possible anomaly affecting one of the LEAP engines, requiring an immediate response by both the flight crew and air traffic services.
Avianca later characterized the event as leading to a routine maintenance inspection of a propulsion system, underscoring that the precautionary return was carried out in accordance with safety procedures.
The incident highlights the layered safety margins built into modern airline operations, where even potential anomalies trigger swift and conservative decision-making to ensure passenger and crew safety.
