India, Jan. 15 -- An Air India Airbus A350 aircraft operating on the Delhi-New York route suffered engine damage after a cargo container lying unattended was sucked into the plane's second engine when it was taxiing in dense fog at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Thursday morning.

The long-haul aircraft operating as flight AI 101 had previously taken off from IGI Airport at 2am but was forced to return to Delhi after Iran's temporary airspace closure. Officials said the plane landed safely on runway 28, but ingested a cargo container when it was taxiing to the apron.

An Air India spokesperson said the airline was assisting passengers with alternative travel arrangements and refunds, as preferred. In a statement, the spokesper...