New Delhi — India’s aviation authorities have launched a detailed investigation after an Air India Airbus A350 jet suffered significant engine damage when it sucked a cargo container into its engine while taxiing at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) early Thursday morning — a rare and serious foreign object ingestion incident that has raised safety questions about ground operations and visibility protocols at one of the country’s busiest airports.
The wide‑body jet, operating Flight AI101 from Delhi to New York (JFK), returned safely to Delhi due to an unexpected airspace closure over Iran, but the drama continued after landing as it moved toward its parking bay amid dense fog when the mishap occurred.
How the Incident Unfolded
According to preliminary findings shared by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft had landed safely on Runway 28 at around 05:25 IST before the incident. While taxiing toward its designated apron via the N/N4 taxiway junction, the aircraft’s right‑hand (No. 2) engine ingested a cargo container that had fallen onto the taxiway, causing “substantial damage” to the engine.
The DGCA’s initial investigation suggests that the container toppled onto the pavement after one wheel of a container dolly came off a moving tug operated by Bird Worldwide Flight Services (BWFS). The tote was being transported to a baggage handling area near bay 242 when it became unstable and fell across the taxiway path.
Flight tracking data shows that the Airbus A350 was taxiing in dense fog with marginal visibility at the time — a factor that likely limited the flight crew’s ability to avoid the obstacle in their path.
Foreign Object Damage: A Serious Safety Hazard
When a jet engine ingests foreign objects such as a cargo container, the consequences can be severe. The high‑speed rotating blades of a turbofan engine can be bent, broken or catastrophically damaged by even modest debris, a class of events known in aviation as Foreign Object Damage (FOD).
In this case, although the aircraft was moving on the ground and not at takeoff speed, the suction created by the powerful engine drew the container into its intake — an unusually large and heavy piece of equipment compared with typical loose debris.
Thankfully — and unusually for such serious incidents — no injuries were reported among the more than 250 passengers and crew on board, a factor authorities have highlighted as a testament to effective flight crew actions during the emergency.
Airport Ground Operations Under Scrutiny
The circumstances raise clear questions about ground‑handling procedures, equipment security and safety checks at IGIA — particularly in conditions of reduced visibility, when the margin for avoiding hazards is slimmer.
Officials note that the DGCA will examine whether ground equipment was moved appropriately in areas adjacent to active taxiways, whether safety protocols for operating in dense fog were followed, and whether the ground handler’s processes meet international standards for preventing contamination of movement areas.
Aviation analysts have pointed out that IGIA, like major airports worldwide, operates under strict FOD prevention programs, but even the best systems depend on rigorous adherence by all teams operating behind the scenes. A single wheel failure and the resulting fallen container highlight how small lapses in equipment maintenance or oversight can escalate rapidly into major safety incidents.
Air India’s Response and Passenger Management
In a statement, Air India confirmed the incident and emphasised the safety of all passengers and crew. The airline said the aircraft was safely positioned on a stand after the mishap, and that passengers were assisted with alternative travel arrangements and refunds where required.
The airline flagged that the affected aircraft — registered VT‑JRB — has been grounded for a thorough inspection and repairs, a process that may lead to disruptions on select long‑haul routes normally serviced by the carrier’s A350 fleet.
Regulatory Action and Ongoing Probe
The DGCA has formally opened a safety investigation to determine how and why the cargo container was left in the taxiway’s path, and whether existing controls were adequate. Officials stressed that understanding the sequence of errors — from wheel failure to ground‑handling movements in poor visibility — is essential to preventing similar events in the future.
Such investigations typically involve detailed interviews with ground service personnel, analysis of airport surface movement data, review of DGCA regulatory compliance records, and reconstruction of the incident site to establish an accurate timeline.
Industry insiders note that the probe may result in recommendations for improved ground‑handling training, mandatory visibility‑related procedures, or infrastructure adjustments at IGIA, particularly for busy intersections where taxiways cross vehicle lanes.
Operational and Industry Implications
The incident has both immediate and broader implications:
- Aircraft Downtime: Grounding an A350 — one of Air India’s most modern aircraft — affects capacity on key routes including New York, London and other long‑haul markets.
- Fleet Allocation: Air India may need to reshuffle aircraft assignments, impacting schedules and maintenance cycles.
- Safety Culture Review: The event could prompt airlines and airports across India to review FOD prevention programs, particularly regarding ground handler certification and equipment maintenance.
- Passenger Confidence: Although there were no injuries, such rare incidents can affect public perceptions of airline and airport safety, making clear communication and decisive action critical.
Foreign Object Ingestion: Rare but Serious
Foreign object ingestion is uncommon but not unheard of — with even small debris known to cause engine failures or blade damage. Aviation safety literature classifies such incidents as serious, often triggering comprehensive reviews and follow‑up safety bulletins from regulatory authorities to all carriers operating at affected airports.
