New Delhi, January 15 (IANS). An Air India flight between Delhi and New York returned to the airport after diverting its route due to closure of Iranian airspace and later suffered engine failure at Delhi airport after a baggage container got stuck in the engine.
The airline said the incident occurred when the Airbus A350 was taxiing at the airport in dense fog.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has started investigating the incident and is trying to find out how the foreign object got stuck inside the engine.
“Flight AI101 from Delhi to New York (JFK) had to return to Delhi immediately after takeoff due to sudden closure of Iranian airspace,” an Air India spokesperson said.
The spokesperson further said, “After landing in Delhi, the aircraft collided with a foreign object while taxiing in dense fog, causing damage to its right engine.”
The airline said that during the incident, the aircraft was safely parked in the designated parking area, ensuring the safety of all passengers and crew on board. Air India said the aircraft has been grounded for complete inspection and necessary repairs.
The airline has warned that this could lead to potential disruptions on A350 routes. However, it has assured that it is working on alternative travel arrangements and refunds for the affected passengers.
The airline said, “Air India regrets the inconvenience caused to our passengers and is actively assisting them with alternative travel arrangements or refunds, as they wish. Safety is the utmost priority for Air India and the airline is committed to providing assistance at this time.”
According to the preliminary investigation, a Bird Worldwide Flight Services tug was carrying baggage containers to the baggage make-up area of Terminal 3.
During the movement, a wheel of a container dolly reportedly came off, causing the container to overturn at the taxiway intersection.
According to officials, when the ground equipment operator saw the approaching plane, he left with the rest of the containers, but the fallen container remained behind and later went into the plane’s No. 2 engine.
–IANS
AMT/DKP