On Thursday at 7 AM, the Delhi-New York Air India flight AI101 encountered two major incidents. First, the aircraft had to return to Delhi after Iran suddenly closed its airspace. Then, during landing, the right engine of the Airbus A350 was damaged when it collided with a luggage container due to dense fog. Despite the aircraft damage, Air India has confirmed that all passengers are safe.
Mid-air double trouble
The airline issued a statement saying that the Flight AI101 from Delhi to New York was forced to return midway after Iran’s airspace was suddenly closed. There were 190 passengers on board, and all are reported safe.
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After returning to Delhi, the aircraft faced another issue at the taxi bay. Dense fog made a nearby baggage container invisible, and it was sucked into the engine, causing damage to the right engine. A passenger recorded a video of the incident from inside the aircraft, though its authenticity has not been verified by Ei Samay Online.
Aircraft grounded and passenger compensation
The aircraft is currently grounded for repairs. Air India apologised to passengers and announced that ticket refunds would be provided. The airline had earlier warned that flight operations on certain routes could face disruptions due to Iran’s airspace closure.
