Air India A350 engine damaged after cargo container entered engine at Delhi Airport
New Delhi: An Air India A350 wide-body aircraft suffered engine damage at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Thursday morning after its right engine ingested a cargo container while taxiing amid dense fog, according to sources.
The incident occurred at around 5:25 am IST and involved Flight AI101, which was operating from Delhi to New York (JFK). Visibility at the airport was marginal due to fog at the time.
The aircraft was forced to return to Delhi shortly after takeoff following the unexpected closure of Iranian airspace, which disrupted its planned route.
After landing safely on Runway 28, the aircraft encountered a foreign object on the taxiway, resulting in damage to Engine No. 2, Air India confirmed in an official statement.
“The aircraft was safely positioned to the designated parking stand, ensuring the safety of all passengers and crew on board,” the airline said.
Cargo container fell on taxiway during foggy conditions
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), a BWFS tug transporting cargo containers to the Baggage Make-Up Area at Terminal 3 crossed the taxiway N/N4 junction via a vehicular lane. During the crossing, one of the containers toppled onto the taxiway, directly in the aircraft’s path.
As the aircraft taxied towards the apron, the fallen container was ingested by the right engine, causing substantial damage. After metal debris was cleared from the area, the aircraft was parked at Stand 244.
Air India said the A350 aircraft (registration VT-JRB) has been grounded for detailed inspection and investigation, and warned of possible disruptions on select A350-operated routes.
The airline expressed regret over the inconvenience caused and said it is assisting affected passengers with alternate travel arrangements and refunds, as per their preference.
The DGCA has launched a formal investigation into the incident to determine accountability and assess any aviation safety lapses.