An Air India A350 ground incident at Delhi Airport has raised safety and operational concerns after a stray cargo container damaged an engine during taxiing in low visibility.
An Air India A350 has been grounded following a serious ground incident at Delhi Airport that resulted in major engine damage. The event occurred during early morning operations in poor visibility conditions, highlighting the risks associated with aircraft movement on congested airport surfaces during adverse weather.
The Air India A350 was taxiing after returning to Delhi when a stray cargo container was ingested into its right-side engine. Although no passengers or crew members were injured, the aircraft sustained significant damage, forcing the airline to remove it from service. Aviation authorities in India have since launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
This incident has immediate implications for Air India’s long-haul operations, as the airline operates a very small fleet of the widebody aircraft. With one jet out of service, scheduling flexibility is reduced, increasing the likelihood of last-minute aircraft changes across international and select domestic routes.
The incident took place at Indira Gandhi International Airport during the early hours of January 15. The aircraft had been operating a service bound for New York but returned shortly after departure due to a temporary airspace closure over Iran. Upon landing back in Delhi just after 5:00 a.m. local time, the aircraft encountered dense fog that significantly reduced ground visibility.
As the Air India A350 taxied toward its parking stand, a cargo container that had fallen from a ground handling vehicle was positioned at a taxiway intersection. The container was subsequently ingested by the number two engine, causing extensive internal damage. According to preliminary findings, fragments of metal and other foreign object debris were scattered in the surrounding area.
India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, confirmed that the affected engine suffered severe damage. The regulator ordered a detailed inspection of the taxiway and nearby surfaces to ensure all debris was cleared before resuming normal operations. The investigation is also examining ground handling procedures and vehicle movements prior to the incident.
The grounded aircraft is part of Air India’s new Airbus A350-900 fleet, which currently numbers only six aircraft. With one jet unavailable, the airline is left operating just five A350s, all of which are heavily utilized on long-haul international services. This limited subfleet size makes recovery from unplanned disruptions particularly challenging.
Air India regularly deploys the A350 on key international routes linking Delhi with major global hubs, including London Heathrow, New York JFK, Newark, and Dubai. The aircraft is also occasionally used on high-demand domestic sectors such as Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad, depending on operational needs.
With one Air India A350 out of service, the airline may be forced to carry out equipment substitutions using other widebody aircraft in its fleet. Such swaps can affect seat availability, cabin configuration, and passenger experience, especially on premium-heavy long-haul routes.
The incident underscores the importance of strict foreign object debris control and clear coordination between flight crews and ground handling teams, particularly during low-visibility operations. As the investigation continues, its findings are expected to influence safety procedures at Delhi Airport and potentially across other major hubs in India.
