A US-bound Air India flight was forced to abort its journey and return to New Delhi, where it subsequently ingested a cargo container into one of its engines while taxiing, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. The incident occurred early on Thursday, January 15, 2026, at Indira Gandhi International Airport.
The Airbus A350-900, operating as flight AI105 to New York’s JFK International Airport, had initially turned back to India due to the closure of Iranian airspace amid regional tensions. After landing safely on the runway at approximately 5:25 AM local time, the aircraft was proceeding toward the parking apron when the dramatic engine ingestion occurred.
According to India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which is leading the investigation, the incident took place under conditions of marginal visibility. Preliminary findings indicate that a baggage tug transporting containers to Terminal 3’s baggage processing area crossed a vehicular lane intersection. During this maneuver, one of the cargo containers toppled onto the taxiway intersection, directly in the path of the moving aircraft.
The container was subsequently ingested into the aircraft’s number two engine, causing significant damage. Ground crews cleared metal debris from the area before the aircraft could be safely parked. The DGCA has launched a comprehensive investigation into the safety breach.
Separately, the initial diversion of the New York-bound flight was prompted by Iran’s sudden closure of its airspace for nearly five hours overnight due to heightened tensions with the United States and internal unrest. The closure forced several airlines, including Air India and IndiGo, to reroute flights, causing anticipated delays and cancellations on international routes that typically traverse Iranian airspace.