NEW DELHI: Air India’s new Airbus A350 (VT-JRB) with over 250 people on board suffered a double whammy while operating as AI 101 from Delhi to New York on Thursday morning. First it had to return to Delhi due to sudden closure of Iranian airspace and then while taxiing to the parking bay at IGIA Airport, an improperly secured container got sucked into one of its engines. Now this aircraft has been grounded for repairs, worsening AI’s widebody crunch with one of its six A350s out of service for a while now.The latest incident yet again highlights the unsafe airside conditions at some Indian airports that have seen vehicles or unattended baggage containers often colliding with planes. A sanitised airside become all the more crucial in desne fog times.According to tracking sites, the aircraft had taken off from Delhi at 2.36 am. While it was in Ahmedabad airspace, Iranian airspace, which it was to overfly subsequently was closed.The airline then decided to return to Delhi. Two more AI flights – Delhi-Newark and Mumbai-JFK – were also cancelled for this reason. However on return, VT-JLB had this incident when an unsecured baggage containers got sucked into its right side engine on taxiing to the terminal.An AI spokesperson said, “Air India confirms that Flight AI101, operating from Delhi to New York (JFK), was forced to return to Delhi shortly after takeoff due to the unexpected closure of Iranian airspace, which impacted its planned route. Upon landing in Delhi, the aircraft encountered a foreign object while taxiing in dense fog, resulting in damage to the right engine. 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. Air India regrets the inconvenience caused to our passengers and is proactively assisting them with alternative travel arrangements and refunds, as preferred. Safety remains the paramount priority for Air India, and the airline is committed to providing support during this time,” the spokesperson added.
