Air India A350 Engine Damaged by Cargo Container at Delhi Airport

An Air India Airbus A350 (VT-JRB) flight AI 101 from Delhi to New York suffered engine damage after a cargo container was sucked into its No. 2 engine. 

The incident occurred on January 15, 2026, while the aircraft was taxiing at Indira Gandhi International Airport.

The plane had earlier taken off at 2 am but was forced to return to Delhi due to the sudden closure of Iranian airspace, which disrupted its planned route. 

Over 250 passengers were on board, and the aircraft landed safely on runway 28 before the engine damage occurred while taxiing toward the apron.

Officials said the container fell from a BWFS tug at the N/N4 taxiway intersection in dense fog, causing the engine ingestion. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an investigation, and Air India is assessing the damage to the aircraft.