India’s aviation regulator launched an investigation after an Air India aircraft suffered engine damage in Delhi. The aircraft ingested a cargo container while taxiing after landing. No passengers or crew members suffered injuries during the incident. The event caused damage to the aircraft’s right engine. Air India grounded the jet for inspection and repairs.
Flight returned after sudden regional airspace shutdown
The Airbus A350 was operating a flight to New York before it returned to Delhi shortly after take-off. Iran temporarily closed its airspace and forced airlines to reroute flights. The aircraft landed safely at Delhi airport on Thursday morning. After landing, it exited the runway and taxied toward the parking bay with passengers onboard. Dense fog reduced visibility at the airport during taxiing, the aviation regulator said.
There were about 240 passengers onboard at the time of the incident, according to an Air India source. The source could not confirm the exact number of crew members. The crew likely included between six and eight people.
Ground handling failure left obstacle on taxiway
India’s civil aviation ministry said the incident occurred around 05:25 local time on Thursday. The aircraft was taxiing toward the apron used for parking and servicing operations. A cargo container accidentally fell from a ground handling vehicle. The container landed at a taxiway intersection used by moving aircraft.
An Air India spokesperson said a wheel detached from a cart being towed by a cargo vehicle. The wheel failure caused the container to fall onto the taxiway surface. The vehicle operator noticed the approaching aircraft and moved away with the remaining cargo. The fallen container remained on the taxiway. The aircraft’s right engine then ingested the container.
Debris cleared as regulator opens detailed inquiry
The aviation regulator said teams later removed metal debris from the taxiway. Authorities towed the aircraft to a designated parking stand. The regulator confirmed it launched a detailed investigation into the incident. Images released by officials showed damage to the engine casing and fan blades. The images also showed debris scattered across the taxiway.
Incident renews concern over airport ground safety
The incident renewed scrutiny of ground safety at India’s busiest airports. Regulators highlighted serious safety lapses at major airports last June. Inspectors found faded runway markings and training deficiencies. They also identified crew fatigue, maintenance shortcomings, and unauthorized cockpit access.
Air India warned of possible disruptions on selected A350 routes during repairs. The airline operates six Airbus A350 aircraft on long-haul services. These services include flights to London and New York. The airline has not specified which routes may face disruption.
