By Kritika Gangwar
IndiGo flight departed from Nagpur to Kolkata had to return to Nagpur airport because it was suspected that a bird struck the front portion of the aircraft, according to a senior airport official. To ensure a proper inspection and to prioritize passenger safety, the flight, IndiGo 6E812, was cancelled, as stated by the airline.
IndiGo informed that they made alternative arrangements and provided full refunds to all passengers affected.
“The inconvenience caused due to this unforeseen situation is deeply regretted. Safety and security of our customers and crew remains our topmost priority”, IndiGo spokesperson said.
The bird damaged the cockpit of the flight through collision.
The flight 6E812 was grounded, and IndiGo scheduled another flight later the same day, which took off from Nagpur airport at 1:45 PM.
Abid Ruhi, Senior Airport Director stated,“We are trying to analyse what has happened. More details awaited”. Airport authorities are inspecting the situation and further information is awaited.
Last week, a similar incident occurred: a technical issue was detected mid-air during a Dubai-bound IndiGo flight that had departed from Surat, Gujarat, carrying over 140 passengers.“Due to some technical issues mid air, the Surat-Dubai IndiGo flight was diverted to Ahmedabad. It landed safely at the airport at around 11:40 AM with nearly 150 passengers. It was not an emergency landing”, said the official of the SVPI airport.
IndiGo arranged a different flight for the passengers later, the flight towards Dubai departed at 1:45 PM.
Bird strikes remain a common issue for Indian airlines, particularly in cities located near wetlands and agricultural areas.
The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) should conduct a comprehensive inspection of all aircraft, not just the one involved in the bird strike.
The last update we have on this report is that IndiGo grounded flight 6E812 for further inspection.