An Air India flight destined for New York was forced to ground its Airbus A350 aircraft in Delhi this week after one of its engines sucked in a baggage container during taxiing, causing significant damage.
Incident Details and Disrupted Journey
The event occurred on Wednesday 14 January 2026, involving Flight AI101. The aircraft, carrying more than 250 passengers, had already experienced a major disruption earlier that day. It was forced to return to Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi after its planned route over Iranian airspace was closed unexpectedly due to ongoing civil unrest in the country.
After landing back in the Indian capital, the jet was taxiing in dense fog conditions when the right engine ingested the ground equipment. An Air India spokesperson confirmed the aircraft encountered a foreign object while taxiing, resulting in damage to the engine. The plane was safely moved to a parking stand, with no injuries reported among passengers or crew.
Safety Response and Wider Travel Chaos
The airline has grounded the Airbus A350 for a detailed inspection and repairs. This is standard procedure following foreign object damage, as the powerful suction from jet engines—even at low taxiing speeds—can cause blade damage or internal stress not immediately visible.
Air India is arranging alternative travel and refunds for all affected passengers. The incident may cause further disruptions on other routes served by the airline's A350 fleet. India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has launched a formal investigation to determine how the baggage container came to be in the aircraft's path.
Broker Context: Iranian Unrest Impacts Global Flights
The initial diversion of Flight AI101 was part of a wider travel disruption caused by Iran's sudden airspace closure. Iran is a key corridor for long-haul flights between India and North America. Several other westbound services from India were impacted, forcing pilots to make mid-flight decisions on rerouting. Additional Air India flights to Newark and New York were cancelled.
The closure stems from major protests in Iran, which began over soaring prices and have evolved into a significant challenge to the nation's clerical establishment. According to the US-based HRANA rights group, the unrest has so far led to 2,435 protester and 153 government-affiliated fatalities.
This incident underscores the heightened risks during low-visibility operations and the critical importance of rigorous ground-handling protocols to secure all equipment away from active aircraft movement areas.
