Highlights:
- Air India Flight AI101 to New York grounded after engine damage
- Aircraft ingested a baggage container during taxiing in dense fog
- No injuries; passengers being rebooked or refunded
- Investigation launched by India’s aviation regulator
- Impact linked with Iranian airspace closure due to unrest
An Air India flight destined for New York was grounded after one of its engines sucked in a baggage container while taxiing at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, the airline confirmed. The unexpected incident came after the aircraft, operating as Flight AI101, had been forced to return to Delhi shortly after takeoff due to the sudden closure of Iranian airspace amid ongoing unrest in the country.
The aircraft, an Airbus A350 carrying more than 250 passengers, initially departed Delhi for John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. However, authorities in Tehran closed their airspace earlier this week as widespread protests against the government intensified, forcing several westbound flights to reroute back to India or choose longer alternatives.
“Air India confirms that Flight AI101, operating from Delhi to New York (JFK), was forced to return to Delhi shortly after takeoff due to the unexpected closure of Iranian airspace, which impacted its planned route,” an Air India spokesperson said. “Upon landing in Delhi, the aircraft encountered a foreign object while taxiing in dense fog, resulting in damage to the right engine.”
The airline said the aircraft was safely positioned at a designated parking stand and that all passengers and crew members were unharmed. The aircraft has since been grounded for a detailed inspection and necessary repairs, which may lead to disruptions on some of Air India’s A350-operated routes. Customers affected by the grounding are being offered alternative travel arrangements or refunds.
“Air India regrets the inconvenience caused to our passengers and is proactively assisting them with alternative travel arrangements and refunds, as preferred. Safety remains the paramount priority for Air India, and the airline is committed to providing support during this time,” the spokesperson added.
Foreign object ingestion, particularly involving ground equipment such as baggage containers, poses significant risks to aircraft engines. Even at low speed, engines generate powerful suction during taxi operations, which can lead to internal damage requiring comprehensive examination. Low-visibility conditions like dense fog, which were present during the incident, may have contributed to the ground equipment not being cleared from the aircraft’s path.
In response, India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has launched an investigation to determine how the baggage container came to be in the taxiway and to assess the ground handling procedures in place at the time of the incident.
The disruption highlights broader consequences of the sudden closure of Iranian airspace, which caught several airlines off guard. In addition to Air India’s grounded flight, other services to Newark and New York were cancelled as carriers evaluated the feasibility of rerouting mid-flight. Iran is a key aerial corridor for long-haul flights between India and North America, and its closure has forced airlines to adopt longer detours that consume more fuel and complicate scheduling.
The unrest in Iran began with protests over rising living costs and has since evolved into one of the most significant challenges to the clerical establishment since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has verified at least 2,435 protesters and 153 government-affiliated individuals killed in the ongoing unrest. U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened intervention on behalf of demonstrators as Tehran has intensified crackdowns.
As Air India works to resume normal operations and ensure passenger safety, the aviation community continues to monitor how geopolitical tensions in Iran will affect regional air traffic routes and international flight operations in the coming weeks.
