An IndiGo flight traveling from Patna to Ranchi suffered a bird strike mid-air, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing at Birsa Munda Airport, Ranchi. The incident occurred at an altitude of 3,000 to 4,000 feet, approximately 10 to 12 nautical miles from the airport.
The aircraft, an Airbus A320, was hit by a vulture, causing a dent near the nose section. Despite the impact, the 175 passengers and crew members on board remained safe, and the flight landed without further complications.
Airport Director R R Maurya confirmed that engineers are assessing the damage, and the aircraft will undergo a thorough inspection before being cleared for further operations. The flight was originally scheduled to continue to Kolkata after arriving in Ranchi, but its journey has been temporarily halted due to the incident.
IndiGo has not yet issued an official statement regarding the bird strike. Bird strikes are a common aviation hazard, particularly during takeoff and landing, and airlines follow strict safety protocols to handle such situations.
Authorities are expected to review airport safety measures to minimize the risk of similar incidents in the future.
