The post Air India A350 Suffers Engine Damage After Baggage Container Ingestion at Delhi Airport appeared first on The Edge Media.
]]>The incident took place after the aircraft returned to Delhi shortly after take-off, following the unexpected closure of Iranian airspace that disrupted its planned route. After landing safely, the aircraft was taxiing in dense fog when the mishap occurred. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew.
Engine ingestion refers to a situation where a jet engine draws in a foreign object such as debris, tools, birds, or baggage containers instead of clean air. Unverified visuals circulating online showed visible damage to the aircraft’s right-side engine.
Following the incident, the aircraft has been grounded for inspection and repairs, adding pressure to Air India’s widebody fleet, with one of its six Airbus A350 aircraft already out of service.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has initiated an investigation to determine how the foreign object entered the taxiway area and was ingested by the engine.
In a statement, Air India confirmed that Flight AI101 was forced to return to Delhi due to Iranian airspace restrictions and subsequently encountered a foreign object while taxiing in low visibility conditions, resulting in damage to the right engine. The airline, however, did not officially identify the object involved.
A civil aviation ministry spokesperson later clarified that the aircraft landed safely on Runway 28 and was taxiing toward the apron when the right engine ingested a cargo container at the taxiway N and N4 junction. The incident occurred at around 05:25 IST, when visibility was marginal.
Preliminary findings suggest that a tug operated by a ground handling agency was transporting baggage containers to the Baggage Makeup Area at Terminal 3. While crossing the intersection, one container reportedly toppled onto the taxiway and was subsequently ingested by the aircraft’s No. 2 engine.
After metal debris was cleared from the area, the aircraft was moved to parking stand 244. The DGCA investigation is ongoing to assess procedural lapses and determine accountability.
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]]>The post Rising GPS Spoofing and Jamming Incidents Raise Aviation Safety Concerns, Warns IATA appeared first on The Edge Media.
]]>Airlines from India, including Air India, IndiGo, Air India Express and SpiceJet, are members of the IATA grouping.
In recent months, cases of GPS spoofing and interference have been reported at major Indian airports such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Amritsar, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai.
Speaking during interactions in Geneva this week, IATA Director General Willie Walsh said incidents of GPS spoofing and jamming have increased sharply across the world. He stressed that the scale of the rise requires pilots to be far more alert during operations, as the issue is no longer confined to a few regions.
GPS or Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) spoofing and jamming involve attempts to disrupt or manipulate navigation systems by transmitting false or misleading signals. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) categorises GNSS spoofing as a form of International Radio Frequency Interference.
Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Operations, Safety and Security, noted that such incidents were initially concentrated in the Middle East and later intensified in Eastern Europe following the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He added that similar cases are now being reported in India, other parts of Asia and even regions such as Venezuela.
Data compiled by IATA shows that the GPS loss rate, measured as the number of GPS signal loss events per 1,000 flights, has risen steadily over the years. The rate stood at 31 in 2022, increased to 56 in 2024 and is projected to reach 59 in 2025. These figures are based on information from the Flight Data eXchange database, part of IATA’s Global Aviation Data Management programme.
Careen described the upward trend as notable and concerning, pointing out that the increase cannot be explained merely by higher flight volumes. He emphasised that GPS interference is becoming more frequent and poses evolving safety challenges for airlines.
According to IATA, data-driven tools such as the Flight Data eXchange are critical in helping airlines assess and mitigate safety risks. Careen also clarified that civil aviation is typically not the intended target of such interference, but often becomes an unintended bystander due to military activities around conflict zones.
He added that improved coordination, communication and resilient systems can help manage the risks. While raising awareness remains a priority, Careen said the issue would not deter him personally from flying.
Meanwhile, India’s civil aviation ministry informed the Lok Sabha this week that 1,951 cases of GPS interference affecting aircraft have been reported since November 2023. Formal reporting of such incidents began after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued an advisory circular on GNSS interference in airspace.
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]]>The post DGCA Summons IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers Over Operational Disruptions appeared first on The Edge Media.
]]>read also: IndiGo Begins Regaining Operational Stability After Days of Severe Flight Disruptions
The DGCA has asked Elbers to submit comprehensive data on the disruptions, including flight restoration efforts, recruitment plans for pilots and crew, updates on the airline’s staffing, and details regarding flight cancellations and refunds.
Elbers has been instructed to attend the meeting at 3 pm, along with senior officials from all relevant departments of IndiGo.
In addition to the report, the DGCA has outlined a series of specific areas for examination. The airline has been asked to provide information on its pilot and crew recruitment plan, the updated number of flight cancellations, and the status of refunds processed. The meeting will also cover the airline’s strategies to address the underlying issues causing these disruptions, including an assessment of its manpower planning and fluctuating crew rostering systems.
The crisis, which led to thousands of cancelled and delayed flights, prompted the DGCA to form a four-member committee to investigate the root causes of the operational breakdown. The panel includes Joint DG Sanjay Brahamane, Deputy Director General Amit Gupta, Senior Flight Operations Inspector Kapil Manglik, and FOI Lokesh Rampal. The committee has been tasked with closely analyzing IndiGo’s crew management, its readiness to implement revised flight duty time regulations, and any gaps in compliance with duty period and rest norms for pilots.
The investigation was officially announced on December 5 by DGCA chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai. The committee is expected to focus on holding IndiGo accountable for the planning failures that contributed to the widespread flight disruptions.
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]]>The post Expert Suggests Possible G Force Blackout in Tejas Jet Crash at Dubai Airshow 2025 appeared first on The Edge Media.
]]>Speaking with media, he explained that only a detailed review of the cockpit recordings will reveal the actual reason behind the tragic incident.
read also: IAF Tejas Fighter Jet Crashes During Dubai Air Show Display
Captain Gaur conveyed deep sympathy to the family of Wing Commander Namansh Syal who died in the crash and noted that initial visuals indicates the aircraft may have slipped out of control during a manoeuvre or the pilot may have suffered a G induced blackout.
He added that fighter pilots rely on G suits to keep blood from flowing downward during high G turns and any failure in this system can lead to a sudden loss of consciousness.
A pilot blackout occurs when extreme gravitational pressure causes blood to drain toward the lower body and prevents sufficient blood flow to the brain.
The Indian Air Force confirmed the passing of the pilot after the Tejas fighter fell to the ground and erupted in flames during its aerial demonstration at the Dubai event and stated that it stands with the family in this moment of immense loss.
The Air Force has ordered a court of inquiry to determine what led to the fatal crash. Local reports indicated that the aircraft went down while performing for a large audience and online images showed thick black smoke rising from the wreckage.
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]]>The post Enhanced Airport Security: Secondary Ladder Point Checking Made Mandatory for All Flights appeared first on The Edge Media.
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Mandatory Secondary Ladder Point Checking
Under the new rule, SLPC will now be conducted for all flights at every airport in India. This procedure involves inspecting passengers and their hand baggage just before they board the aircraft, in addition to the usual primary security screening.
Additional Security Protocols
BCAS has also instructed full inspections of aircraft, including catering services, to ensure no potential threats are overlooked. Non-scheduled flight operations—such as chartered planes and air ambulances—will now face stricter supervision. Random baggage checks will be carried out more frequently to prevent any suspicious activity.
Purpose of the Enhanced Measures
According to the BCAS advisory issued on November 10, these measures aim to maintain a high level of vigilance across all aviation-related facilities including airports, airstrips, helipads, flying schools, and aviation training centers. The enhanced checks are designed to prevent any potential security incidents and reassure passengers of their safety while traveling.
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]]>The post DGCA Considers New Rules on Power Bank Use During Flights appeared first on The Edge Media.
]]>This move follows an incident on October 19 when a passenger’s power bank caught fire on an IndiGo aircraft while taxiing at Delhi airport for a Dimapur-bound flight. The cabin crew quickly brought the situation under control and prevented further damage.
A senior official stated that the regulator is studying global regulations before finalizing any measures. While some restrictions may be implemented to enhance safety, there are currently no plans to impose a complete ban on carrying or using power banks in flight.
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu also confirmed on October 25 that the DGCA is reviewing the matter thoroughly. Existing aviation safety rules already require strict adherence when carrying electronic items containing lithium batteries on board aircraft.
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