An Air India flight bound for New York was forced to halt its journey after one of its engines was badly damaged during taxiing at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. The incident occurred in the early hours amid dense fog, raising fresh concerns over safety during low-visibility operations at one of India’s busiest airports.
The aircraft, an Airbus A350 operating as Flight AI101, was preparing for departure when one of its engines accidentally sucked in a baggage container that had been left on the taxiway. The impact caused serious damage to the engine, making it unsafe for the aircraft to continue its long-haul journey to the United States.
Airport officials said visibility was extremely poor due to heavy fog at the time of the incident. This likely played a role in the ground handling lapse that allowed the container to remain in the aircraft’s path.
The flight had already faced disruption earlier in the day. After departing Delhi for New York, the aircraft was forced to return because Iranian airspace was closed, affecting its planned route. Upon landing back in Delhi and while taxiing for further operations, the engine damage occurred.
Despite the severity of the incident, all passengers and crew members remained safe. Air India immediately grounded the aircraft for technical inspection and repair. Aviation experts say that ingesting a foreign object, particularly something as large as a baggage container, can severely damage engine blades and internal systems, even if no external fire or smoke is visible.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation confirmed the incident through a post on X and announced that a detailed investigation is underway. The regulator will review airport ground procedures, visibility conditions, and the actions of ground handling staff to determine how the container ended up in a critical movement area.
— DGCA (@DGCAIndia) January 15, 2026
The investigation will also examine whether standard safety protocols were properly followed. Such incidents highlight the risks associated with ground operations, especially in poor weather, even though modern aircraft are designed to withstand extreme conditions in the air.
Delhi Airport manages hundreds of flights every day, and aviation safety experts stress that even minor lapses in ground coordination can lead to costly and potentially dangerous situations. The outcome of the DGCA inquiry is expected to shape stricter enforcement of safety practices during fog and other low-visibility conditions.