An Air India flight from Delhi to New York suffered a rare and alarming ground incident at Indira Gandhi International Airport on January 15, 2026, when a cargo baggage container was sucked into the aircraft’s right engine while taxiing in dense fog. The Airbus A350 operating as Flight AI101 has been grounded with extensive engine damage, triggering investigations by India’s aviation regulator and raising serious questions about airside safety and ground handling practices at one of the country’s busiest airports.

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How the Delhi to New York Flight Turned Into a Ground Emergency

The chain of events began well before the engine damage occurred. Air India’s Flight AI101, operated by a relatively new Airbus A350 and carrying more than 250 passengers, departed Delhi for New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport in the early hours of January 15. The flight took off around 2:00 a.m. local time, beginning what was expected to be a routine long-haul transatlantic service.

Midway through its westbound journey, however, the aircraft was compelled to turn back after Iran unexpectedly closed its airspace amid regional tensions. With one of the key corridors for flights between India and Europe or North America temporarily shut, the crew opted for a return to base rather than a lengthy diversion that would have required complex fuel and routing considerations. The aircraft landed safely back in Delhi on Runway 28 at approximately 5:25 a.m. local time, with no technical issues reported at that stage.

It was only after the jet had completed this so-called “air turnback” and was taxiing from the runway toward the apron area in marginal visibility that the situation deteriorated. According to official accounts, the severe damage that ultimately grounded the aircraft occurred not in flight, but during the final minutes of ground movement after an otherwise uneventful landing.

What Investigators Say Happened on the Taxiway

Initial findings released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and corroborated by airline and airport sources describe a highly unusual and preventable ground-side failure. As the A350 taxied toward its parking stand, its right-side engine, designated as Engine Number 2, ingested a cargo baggage container that had toppled onto the taxiway junction.

The incident occurred near the intersection of taxiways N and N4, an area that also interfaces with vehicular lanes used by ground support equipment near Terminal 3. A ground handling tug belonging to service provider Bird Worldwide Flight Services was transporting several baggage or cargo containers toward a zone designated for Ground Service Equipment parking near Bay 242. During this movement, one of the dolly wheels reportedly came loose, causing a container to topple from the tug and land on or very close to the taxiway.

In the dense fog that has disrupted operations across north India in recent days, the container remained on the pavement as the Air India A350 approached. Investigators say the tug operator attempted to clear the area by moving away with the remaining containers after noticing the incoming aircraft, but the fallen container was left behind. With reduced visibility and the aircraft’s pilots unable to see directly along the line of the engines from the cockpit, the large high-bypass turbofan drew the container toward its intake, causing a violent ingestion event.

Extent of the Engine Damage and Immediate Response

Witnesses and officials describe “substantial” or “extensive” damage to the aircraft’s right engine, a Rolls-Royce Trent XWB powerplant that is both highly sophisticated and costly to repair or replace. Images circulating in aviation circles show a mangled intake area and clear evidence of high-energy impact, although formal assessments of the internal damage are still underway.

Following the ingestion, the aircraft came to a halt on the taxiway as ground crews and airport emergency services responded. Metal debris from the shattered container had to be cleared from the taxiway surface before the jet could be moved safely. Once the immediate hazards were contained, the aircraft was towed to Stand 244, where it remains parked pending detailed inspection by Air India engineers, Rolls-Royce specialists, and regulatory investigators.

Despite the severity of the damage to the engine, officials emphasize that all passengers and crew members on board remained safe throughout the incident. At no point did the aircraft lose control or catch fire, and the event unfolded at low taxi speeds, which helped avert a more serious outcome.

Passenger Impact and Air India’s Operational Challenges

For passengers booked on AI101 to New York, the turbulent morning translated into a major disruption. After already enduring an initial departure, a mid-journey return to Delhi due to the Iran airspace closure, and a second landing, they then faced the consequences of the ground incident that rendered their aircraft unserviceable. Air India has said it is assisting affected travelers with alternative travel options, including rebooking on later flights and providing refunds for those who choose not to continue their journeys.

The grounding of this particular A350 is a significant operational setback for the airline. Air India currently operates a small fleet of Airbus A350 aircraft on high-profile international routes, including services linking Delhi to London, New York, Newark, Dubai, and Singapore. Taking one of these widebody jets out of service for an extended period, as is likely with severe engine damage, reduces flexibility in the schedule and raises the risk of further delays or cancellations on long-haul sectors.

In a public statement, the airline acknowledged that the aircraft is grounded for a comprehensive investigation and necessary repairs, and warned of potential disruptions on select A350 routes. Passengers booked on upcoming flights involving this aircraft type may see last-minute equipment changes, timing adjustments, or, in some cases, consolidation of services as the airline reshuffles its fleet.

Regulatory Scrutiny and Questions Over Ground Handling Safety

The DGCA has launched a formal probe into the incident, focusing on how a baggage or cargo container was able to topple into an active taxiway and remain there as a widebody aircraft passed. Early attention is centered on ground handling practices, equipment maintenance, and adherence to airside safety protocols, particularly during periods of low visibility.

Investigators are examining the condition of the dolly and tug that were moving the containers, including the reported wheel failure that caused the load to destabilize. They are also likely to scrutinize whether standard operating procedures were followed in securing and transporting the containers, and whether any additional safeguards should have been in place while operating in foggy conditions when pilots’ ability to visually detect obstacles is compromised.

Aviation safety experts note that airports typically demarcate strict boundaries for ground vehicles and equipment in relation to aircraft movement areas, with marked lines that tugs and dollies are not permitted to cross. If a loose wheel or mechanical failure led to a container rolling or toppling into the taxiway, regulators will seek to understand whether this was an isolated failure or symptomatic of broader gaps in ground equipment inspection and maintenance regimes.

How Rare Is a Baggage Container Ingestion Incident?

Engine ingestion of foreign objects is a known risk in aviation, encapsulated in the industry term “foreign object damage,” or FOD. Airports invest considerable effort in minimizing this risk, including frequent runway and taxiway inspections and strict housekeeping standards around airside operations. Common FOD items include loose hardware, stones, and small debris. Large objects such as baggage or cargo containers entering the engine intake are extremely rare in commercial operations.

High-bypass turbofan engines like the Trent XWB installed on the Airbus A350 generate enormous suction at low speeds, particularly at higher thrust settings used for taxiing in heavy conditions. Aviation specialists have pointed out that, while pilots may not be able to see directly into or around the engine area from the cockpit, ground crews are trained to maintain a safe clearance zone around the aircraft to prevent equipment from coming too close to the engines.

Comparable incidents involving large ground equipment or containers being ingested or striking engines have been documented at airports abroad, but they are infrequent and usually prompt immediate reviews of safety procedures. When such events do occur, the costs can be substantial, ranging from engine overhauls and replacement of fan blades to extended aircraft downtime and knock-on schedule disruptions.

The Role of Weather and Visibility at Delhi Airport

The incident took place against the backdrop of one of north India’s seasonal challenges: dense winter fog. Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport routinely contends with poor visibility in December and January, often forcing airlines to delay, divert, or cancel flights. Special low-visibility procedures and Category IIIB instrument landing systems are designed to maintain safe operations, but the fog still complicates ground movement and heightens the need for meticulous coordination.

On the morning of January 15, visibility at the time of the incident was described as “marginal,” meaning that while operations were possible, conditions were far from ideal. Under such circumstances, not only pilots but also ground vehicle operators and marshallers must rely more heavily on instruments, lighting, and procedural discipline. The DGCA investigation is expected to explore whether the fog played a direct role by obscuring the fallen container from view or whether the incident would have been avoidable regardless of weather.

Airport authorities may also review whether additional safeguards are necessary during prolonged fog episodes. Potential measures could include tighter restrictions on the movement of baggage and cargo equipment near active taxiways, increased staffing for surface surveillance, or greater reliance on ground radar and other monitoring technologies to spot objects on movement areas in real time.

What This Means for Travelers and the Broader Aviation Sector

For travelers, the most immediate consequence is the disruption to flights that rely on Air India’s Airbus A350 fleet. Passengers booked on long-haul services from Delhi in the coming days, particularly to New York and other Western destinations, may face schedule changes as the airline absorbs the loss of one of its key widebody jets during peak winter travel demand.

More broadly, the incident underscores the complexity of aviation safety, where risks are managed not only in the air but also on the ground. While public attention often focuses on in-flight emergencies, this case highlights how lapses or mechanical failures in something as seemingly routine as towing a baggage container can have outsized consequences for high-value aircraft and the passengers who rely on them.

Regulators, airport operators, and airlines will be watching the outcome of the DGCA’s investigation closely. Any recommendations are likely to influence ground handling standards across India, particularly at major hubs where dense traffic, tight turnaround times, and challenging weather conditions intersect. For Air India, the priority will be repairing the damaged A350, restoring full long-haul capacity, and reassuring passengers that safety remains paramount both on the runway and beyond the terminal gates.