India's aviation authorities have initiated a thorough probe after a major ground incident involving an Air India wide-body aircraft at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. The event, which saw a cargo container sucked into one of the plane's engines, has sparked renewed concerns over operational safety procedures at the nation's bustling airports.
Foggy Taxiway Incident Damages Multi-Million Dollar Engine
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India's primary aviation regulator, confirmed it is leading the investigation. The incident involved an Air India Airbus A350-900, a modern and expensive aircraft, which was preparing for a flight to New York.
The event occurred in the early hours of Thursday, January 15, 2026, at approximately 05:25 local time. Visibility was severely reduced due to dense fog, conditions described by the DGCA as "marginal." The aircraft, carrying around 240 passengers and an estimated six to eight crew members, had just landed safely after being forced to return to Delhi. The return was necessitated by the temporary closure of Iranian airspace, which disrupted the original flight path.
While taxiing towards the parking bay with passengers still on board, the aircraft encountered a loose cargo container on the taxiway intersection. According to the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation, the container had accidentally fallen from a ground service vehicle.
How a Falling Container Led to Major Engine Ingestion
Air India provided a detailed sequence of events. A cart being towed by a baggage handling vehicle lost a wheel, causing a cargo container to fall onto the taxiway. The vehicle operator, noticing the approaching Airbus A350, moved away from the area with the rest of the cargo but left the fallen container behind.
This abandoned container was then ingested into the aircraft's No. 2 engine, causing significant damage. Photographs released by the DGCA on social media platform X showed clear damage to the engine's casing and its internal fan blades. Metal debris from the incident was scattered across the taxiway, which had to be cleared before the area could be reopened.
Miraculously, no injuries were reported among passengers or crew. The aircraft was subsequently towed to a designated stand. Air India has confirmed that the A350 has been grounded and will require extensive repairs, which may lead to disruptions on some of its long-haul routes operated by its fleet of six Airbus A350s, including services to London and New York.
DGCA Scrutiny and Past Safety Warnings
This alarming event has turned the spotlight back onto ground handling safety standards at Indian airports. The DGCA has previously expressed concerns, issuing warnings in June of the previous year about various safety lapses at major airports and airlines across the country.
The regulator's earlier audit highlighted several critical issues, including:
- Faded runway and taxiway markings.
- Inadequate and faulty simulator training for personnel.
- High levels of crew fatigue.
- Insufficient aircraft maintenance procedures.
- Instances of unauthorized access to aircraft cockpits.
This latest incident with the Air India A350 underscores the potential consequences of such lapses, even when they occur on the ground. The investigation will likely examine the adherence to safety protocols by ground staff, the maintenance of ground support equipment, and the coordination between vehicle operators and air traffic control during low-visibility conditions.
As the DGCA continues its probe, the aviation industry and the traveling public await answers and assurances that concrete steps will be taken to prevent a recurrence of such a dangerous event.
