Air India’s grounded A350 likely to resume flights in three weeks

Air India is inspecting the engine and will replace it after assessment by OEMs Rolls-Royce and Collins Aerospace. A file photo.
| Photo Credit:
@DGCAIndia/X via PTI Photo

An Air India Airbus A350 aircraft, grounded after an engine ingestion incident at Delhi, is likely to return to service in two to three weeks.

Engine damage

The right engine of the Airbus aircraft suffered extensive damage after ingesting an idle cargo container last Thursday. The freak incident occurred while the aircraft was taxiing to a parking bay in low visibility.

Air India operates six Airbus A350 aircraft and serves London, New York, and Newark. With one aircraft grounded, it is using a Boeing 777 plane for one of the US/UK flights.

OEM assessment

The airline is conducting inspections of the damaged engine, and an assessment will be shared with the original equipment manufacturers, Rolls-Royce and Collins Aerospace. The damaged engine will be replaced subsequently, after taking OEM feedback.

Damaged portions include engine fan and inlet cowl. While Air India has a spare engine, it is sourcing an inlet cowl from Collins Aerospace.

Insurer notified

Air India and Rolls-Royce did not respond to email queries. A source said the airline has alerted all agencies, including the aircraft insurer. “We are waiting for the final report from DGCA,” he added.

A surveyor will inspect the damaged engine, and based on that inspection, the claim amount will be determined. The insurance company can also claim damages from ground handling firm BWFS under subrogation clauses in the policy.

Regulatory probe

On its part, the regulator has begun its probe and is expected to fix responsibility for the incident and prevent recurrence. Training of ground personnel involved will also be checked.

In its preliminary finding, the DGCA said a container lay abandoned on the taxiway after falling from a tug.

DGCA’s account

“A tug belonging to 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 Air India aircraft taxiing in and equipment operator vacated the spot with remaining dollies and containers. However the container which fell was left behind and it got ingested in engine of Air India A350 aircraft,” a Directorate General of Civil Aviation official had said last week.

The Airbus aircraft involved in the incident was en route to New York but was forced to return to Delhi due to the closure of Iranian airspace.

Published on January 21, 2026