The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has ordered a probe after an idle container got sucked into an Air India Airbus A350 aircraft engine at Delhi airport on Thursday morning.
The New York bound-aircraft was taxiing to the bay after an air turn back due to closure of Iranian airspace.
The Airbus aircraft has now been grounded for inspection and necessary repairs.
According to preliminary information, the aircraft landed safely and was taxiing towards the assigned bay when the incident occurred.
“A tug belonging to ground handling firm BWFS was transporting a few containers to this area when one of the wheels of the container dolly came off and the container toppled onto the taxiway. The equipment operator noticed the Air India aircraft taxiing in and the equipment operator vacated the spot with the remaining dollies and containers. However, the container which fell was left behind, and it got ingested in the engine of the Air India A350 aircraft,” a Directorate General of Civil Aviation official said.
In a statement the airline said the aircraft was safely positioned to the designated parking stand, ensuring the safety of all passengers and crew on board. The aircraft is currently grounded for a thorough investigation and necessary repairs, which may cause potential disruptions on select A350 routes.
“Safety remains the paramount priority for Air India, and the airline is committed to providing support during this time,” a spokesperson said.
Published on January 15, 2026
