The incident occurred as Flight AI101 was taxiing in dense fog after returning to the national capital shortly after take-off, following the unexpected closure of Iranian airspace. No injuries were reported.
DGCA has launched an investigation to determine how the foreign object came to be on the taxiway. Representational pic
Air India’s newest Airbus A350 aircraft, operating a Delhi–New York flight with more than 250 passengers on board, suffered damage to its right engine after ingesting an improperly secured baggage container while taxiing to its parking bay at the Delhi airport, sources told news agency PTI on Wednesday.
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The incident occurred as Flight AI101 was taxiing in dense fog after returning to the national capital shortly after take-off, following the unexpected closure of Iranian airspace. No injuries were reported.
Engine ingestion refers to a situation where a jet engine draws in a foreign object such as baggage containers, tools, debris, or birds instead of clean air. Unverified visuals circulating online showed damage to the aircraft’s right-side engine.
The aircraft has been grounded for repairs, adding to Air India’s shortage of widebody aircraft, with one of its six A350s already out of service, PTI reported.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an investigation to determine how the foreign object came to be on the taxiway.
“Air India confirms that Flight AI101, operating from Delhi to New York (JFK), was forced to return to Delhi shortly after take-off due to the unexpected closure of Iranian airspace, which impacted its planned route. Upon landing in Delhi, the aircraft encountered a foreign object while taxiing in dense fog, resulting in damage to the right engine,” the airline said in a statement.
Preliminary probe points to baggage container falling on taxiway in low visibility
While Air India did not specify the foreign object, PTI sources said it was an improperly secured baggage container.
“The aircraft was safely positioned at the designated parking stand, ensuring the safety of all passengers and crew on board,” the airline added.
A spokesperson for the civil aviation ministry said the aircraft landed safely on Runway 28 and, while taxiing towards the apron area at the N/N4 taxiway junction, the right engine ingested a cargo container, causing substantial damage.
“The incident occurred around 05:25 IST. As per information, visibility at the time was marginal. Preliminary investigation has revealed that a BWFS tug transporting containers to the Baggage Make-up Area of Terminal 3 crossed the intersection via the vehicular lane,” the spokesperson said.
DGCA probe finds container left on taxiway during ground movement
“During the crossing, one container toppled onto the taxiway intersection and was ingested by the No. 2 engine of the Air India A350 aircraft,” the spokesperson added.
After clearing metal debris from the area, the aircraft was parked at stand 244.
Providing further details, a DGCA official said the area near bay 242 was designated for Air Mauritius ground support equipment parking.
While a BWFS (Bird Worldwide Flight Services) tug was transporting containers to this area, a wheel of the container dolly reportedly came off, causing a container to fall onto the taxiway.
Although the equipment operator noticed the Air India aircraft taxiing in and moved the remaining dollies away, the fallen container was left behind and was subsequently ingested by the aircraft engine, the official said.
Air India said the aircraft has been grounded for a thorough investigation and that there could be potential disruptions on select routes operated using the A350 fleet.
Powerful engine suction, closed Iranian airspace add to operational strain
Strict ground-handling protocols are in place at airports, particularly when aircraft engines are running after landing. However, officials said lapses may have occurred, leading to this rare incident. In December 2015, an Air India technician was sucked into an aircraft engine at Mumbai airport.
Jet engines generate powerful suction, especially during taxiing or take-off. Any foreign object entering the engine can damage fan blades or cause internal structural stress, often requiring the engine to be shut down for inspection or replacement.
Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft, registered as VT-JRB, departed Delhi at 2.36 am and was cruising over Ahmedabad airspace when Iran closed its airspace, blocking its planned overflight — a key corridor for westbound transatlantic flights.
With no viable alternative route available at that stage, the crew took the precautionary decision to return to Delhi.
As a result of the airspace shutdown, Air India also cancelled two other flights — Delhi–Newark and Mumbai–New York (JFK).
Iranian airspace is a crucial transit corridor for long-haul flights between South Asia, Europe, and North America due to its fuel-efficient routing. Iran closed its airspace to commercial flights for over four hours early Thursday amid tensions with the United States over its crackdown on nationwide protests.
While several international carriers diverted flights north and south of Iran, the closure later expired after an extension. A prolonged shutdown would have further strained Indian carriers already dealing with longer flight times and higher fuel costs due to the continued closure of Pakistani airspace.
Sources said the aircraft’s right engine sustained significant damage in the incident.
Expressing regret over the inconvenience caused, Air India said it is proactively assisting affected passengers with alternative travel arrangements and refunds, as per their preference.
(With PTI inputs)
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