Air India has warned of possible disruptions to routes operated by its Airbus A350 fleet after one of the long-haul aircraft suffered engine damage following its return to New Delhi on January 15, 2026.
The airline said the aircraft encountered a “foreign object” while taxiing in dense fog after landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport. India’s aviation regulator later confirmed that the damage was caused by a stray cargo container that had fallen from a vehicle and come to rest on a taxiway.
The aircraft, an Airbus A350-900, had been operating a flight bound for New York but turned back to New Delhi after Iran temporarily closed its airspace. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the incident occurred at approximately 5:25 a.m. local time, shortly after the aircraft landed back at its origin airport.
Photos released by the regulator showed visible damage to the inside of the engine’s air-intake area. The DGCA said further investigation is under way to determine how the cargo container came to be on the taxiway and to assess compliance with ground-handling and airport safety procedures.
Air India confirmed that the affected aircraft has been grounded for inspection and repairs.
“The aircraft is currently grounded for a thorough investigation and necessary repairs, which may cause potential disruptions on select A350 routes,” the airline said in a statement. Air India did not specify which routes could be affected.
The carrier operates six A350 aircraft, which it has deployed on long-haul services from New Delhi to major international destinations, including London, New York, and Newark, New Jersey. The airline also serves those routes with older Boeing aircraft.
Fog frequently disrupts flight operations at Delhi during the winter months, often affecting both airside and ground movements.
Iran reopened its airspace several hours after the closure that forced the Air India flight to return. The closure followed heightened regional tensions that prompted airlines to reroute or cancel flights through Iranian airspace.
Air India has not provided a timeline for returning the aircraft to service. The regulator said it will continue its investigation and review findings related to airport ground operations and safety controls.
