Air India’s warning of possible disruptions to routes operated by its Airbus A350 fleet following engine damage to one aircraft in New Delhi has drawn attention beyond India’s borders, placing renewed focus on airport surface safety, regulatory oversight and the operational risks posed by sudden international airspace closures.
The aircraft sustained damage after encountering a foreign object while taxiing at Indira Gandhi International Airport in dense fog conditions. India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, later clarified that the object was a stray cargo container that had fallen onto a taxiway from a vehicle operating within the airport perimeter.
Regulatory response and aircraft grounding
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation confirmed that the aircraft has been grounded pending further investigation and necessary repairs. Photographs released by the regulator showed a visible hole on the inside of the engine air intake area, a critical zone governed by stringent airworthiness standards.
Air India said the aircraft would remain out of service until investigations were completed and repairs carried out, adding that the grounding could result in potential disruptions to select routes served by its A350 fleet. The airline did not specify which routes may be affected.
The regulator stated that further investigation was ongoing, indicating that the inquiry would examine both the circumstances leading to the cargo container entering the taxiway and the broader ground handling and safety protocols in place at the airport.
Impact on international long haul routes
Air India currently operates six Airbus A350 aircraft, deployed primarily on long haul international routes, including services between New Delhi and London, New York and Newark. These routes are also served by older wide body aircraft from Boeing, which may be used to mitigate schedule disruptions.
The A350 fleet forms a central part of Air India’s long haul operations, and any prolonged grounding has implications for capacity planning on transcontinental routes that are commercially significant and operationally complex.
Airspace closure and operational disruption
The affected aircraft had originally been operating a flight to New York but was forced to return to New Delhi due to Iran’s temporary closure of its airspace. The closure lasted nearly five hours and was imposed amid concerns over possible military action involving the United States and Iran.
Airspace closures of this nature require immediate compliance by airlines and often result in cancellations, diversions or delays across multiple international carriers. Iran has since reopened its airspace, but the disruption added to operational pressures faced by airlines navigating volatile geopolitical conditions.
Airport safety and international standards
Foreign object damage is a recognised risk in global aviation, and international standards require airport operators to maintain strict controls over runway and taxiway environments. The presence of a cargo container on an active taxiway has prompted scrutiny of vehicle movement, load securing procedures and surface monitoring systems at one of India’s busiest international airports.
While investigations are ongoing, such incidents are closely monitored by regulators and insurers, particularly when they involve aircraft operating international services under global safety and compliance frameworks.
Broader international aviation implications
The incident underscores the multiple layers of risk facing long haul carriers, combining airport ground safety, regulatory compliance and geopolitical uncertainty. For airlines operating new generation aircraft on intercontinental routes, even isolated incidents can have ripple effects across scheduling, fleet availability and regulatory reporting obligations.
Air India said it was cooperating fully with the regulator and that safety remained its priority.
As investigations continue, findings from the inquiry are expected to inform any corrective measures related to airport operations and ground handling practices, with implications for international aviation stakeholders monitoring safety performance at major global hubs.