India’s aviation watchdog launched an investigation after an Air India aircraft suffered an engine incident at Delhi airport. The aircraft was taxiing when its engine pulled in a cargo container. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew. The incident caused damage to the aircraft’s engine. Air India grounded the plane for inspection and repairs.
Flight returned after airspace closure
The Airbus A350 was flying 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 earlier on Thursday. After landing, it exited the runway and taxied toward the parking bay with passengers onboard. Dense fog reduced visibility at the time, according to the aviation regulator.
There were about 240 passengers on the aircraft during the incident, an Air India source said. The source could not confirm the exact crew count. The crew likely included between six and eight members.
Container fell onto taxiway during ground operations
India’s civil aviation ministry said the incident occurred around 05:25 local time on Thursday. The aircraft was taxiing toward the apron area used for parking and servicing. A cargo container had accidentally fallen from a ground vehicle. The container landed at a taxiway intersection used by moving aircraft.
An Air India spokesperson explained that a wheel detached from a towed cargo cart. The detached wheel caused the container to fall onto the taxiway. The vehicle operator noticed the approaching aircraft and removed the remaining cargo. The fallen container remained on the taxiway. The aircraft’s right engine then ingested the container.
Authorities clear debris and open detailed probe
The aviation regulator said crews later cleared metal debris from the taxiway. Officials towed the aircraft to a designated parking stand. The regulator confirmed it opened a detailed investigation into the incident. Photos released by the regulator showed damage to the engine casing and fan blades. The images also showed debris scattered on the taxiway surface.
Growing concern over ground safety
The incident increased scrutiny over ground safety at India’s busiest airports. Last June, regulators flagged major safety lapses across airports and airlines. Inspectors found faded runway markings and training shortcomings. They also identified crew fatigue, maintenance gaps, and unauthorized cockpit access.
Air India warned of possible disruptions on some A350 routes while repairs continue. The airline operates six Airbus A350 aircraft on long-haul services. These routes include flights to London and New York. The airline has not confirmed which specific routes may face disruption.
