New Delhi: An Air India wide-body A350 aircraft sustained damage to its right engine at the Delhi airport on Thursday morning after it reportedly sucked in a cargo container amid dense fog conditions, sources said.
Following the incident, the airline grounded the aircraft for a detailed technical inspection, warning that operations on certain routes operated by A350 aircraft could face temporary disruptions.
Air India said Flight AI101, scheduled to operate from Delhi to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, had earlier returned to Delhi shortly after takeoff due to the unexpected closure of Iranian airspace, which affected its planned flight path. The aircraft landed safely at the Delhi airport.
“In dense fog conditions, while taxiing after landing, the aircraft encountered a foreign object, resulting in damage to the right engine,” the airline said in an official statement. It added that the aircraft was safely moved to a designated parking bay and that all passengers and crew members were unharmed.
According to sources, the damage occurred when the right engine ingested a cargo container after the aircraft had landed, leading to significant impact on the engine.
Expressing regret over the inconvenience caused, Air India said it is extending full support to affected passengers by arranging alternative travel options and processing refunds where required.
