Air India Alerts Passengers of Potential Disruptions Following A350 Engine Issue in Delhi

Air India has issued a notice regarding potential interruptions to its services that utilize the Airbus A350 fleet. This follows an incident involving one of the long-haul planes, which sustained engine damage after returning to New Delhi on January 15, 2026.

The airline reported that the aircraft encountered an unidentified “foreign object” while taxiing through thick fog upon landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport. Subsequently, India’s aviation authority confirmed that the damage resulted from a stray cargo container that fell from a vehicle and landed on the taxiway.

The impacted aircraft, an Airbus A350-900, was en route to New York when it had to turn back due to Iran temporarily closing its airspace. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation noted that this incident took place around 5:25 a.m. local time, shortly after the plane arrived back at its departure point.

Images shared by the regulator revealed noticeable harm to the engine’s air-intake area. The DGCA has announced that a thorough investigation is underway to uncover how the cargo container ended up on the taxiway and to evaluate adherence to airport safety and ground-handling protocols.

Air India has acknowledged that the A350 involved is currently grounded for detailed inspections and repairs. The airline stated, “The aircraft is undergoing an extensive investigation and necessary repairs, which may result in potential disruptions on select A350 routes.” However, specific routes that could be affected have not been disclosed.

Currently, Air India operates six A350 aircraft, utilizing them for long-distance flights from New Delhi to key international markets such as London, New York, and Newark, New Jersey. Older Boeing models serve the same routes as well.

Winter months often see fog disrupt flight operations in Delhi, impacting both runway and ground movements.

After several hours, Iran reopened its airspace following the temporary closure that compelled the Air India flight to return. This closure was enacted in response to increased regional tensions, leading several airlines to reroute or cancel flights that traversed Iranian airspace.

Air India has yet to provide a timeline for when the aircraft will be back in service. The regulator will persist in its investigation and scrutinize findings related to the safety and operational controls at the airport.

What are your thoughts on the safety procedures in place for airport ground operations?