One of the engines of an Air India Airbus A350 aircraft operating the Delhi–New York route was damaged on Thursday after it ingested a cargo container while taxiing at Delhi airport, the airline and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed.
The incident occurred after the flight returned to Delhi midway following the closure of Iranian airspace amid ongoing unrest in the region. Air India clarified that the damage took place on the ground and not during flight operations.
In an official note, the DGCA said Air India’s A350 aircraft (registration VT-JRB), operating flight AI101 from Delhi to New York (JFK), was forced to turn back due to Iranian airspace restrictions and landed safely on Runway 28.
“During taxi to the apron at the taxiway N/N4 junction, the number two engine ingested a cargo container, causing damage to the engine,” the regulator said.
The DGCA added that after metal debris was cleared, the aircraft was parked at stand 244. A detailed investigation is being carried out by the Directorate of Air Safety (North Region).
Earlier, Air India said the aircraft encountered a foreign object while taxiing in dense fog, resulting in damage to the right engine. The airline stressed that all standard operating procedures were followed and that passenger and crew safety was never compromised.
A video circulating on social media purportedly shows damage to the aircraft’s engine, with claims that a cargo container was ingested during taxiing. Air India officials said the aircraft has been grounded and will remain out of service pending a thorough technical inspection.
“The safety and airworthiness of the aircraft will be ensured before it is cleared for any future operations,” an official said, adding that engineering teams have begun a comprehensive probe into the incident.
The episode is likely to have operational implications for Air India, which currently operates a limited fleet of six Airbus A350 aircraft. The wide-body jets are deployed on high-demand long-haul routes linking New Delhi with destinations such as London, New York and Newark.
With such a small A350 fleet, the grounding of even one aircraft could lead to schedule disruptions or cancellations. The airline has cautioned passengers about possible changes to its A350 services.
Flight AI101 had initially departed for New York before being forced to return following the sudden closure of Iranian airspace, which affected several international flights at the time.
No injuries were reported, and all onboard safety protocols were followed throughout the incident.