A routine flight from Patna to Ranchi turned tense on Monday afternoon after an IndiGo Airbus A320 was struck by a vulture mid-air, prompting the pilot to initiate an emergency landing at Ranchi’s Birsa Munda Airport. The incident, which occurred around 1:14 pm, saw the aircraft hit by the large bird approximately 10 to 12 nautical miles from the airport at an altitude between 3,000 to 4,000 feet.
According to airport director R.R. Maurya, swift action by the pilot ensured the safety of all 175 passengers and crew members on board. “The flight suffered a bird hit near Ranchi and had to make an emergency landing. Thankfully, all passengers are safe,” he confirmed. The impact from the vulture caused a visible dent in the aircraft, prompting the airline to ground the plane for further inspection.
Airport engineers have begun assessing the extent of the damage. While there were no injuries reported, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks posed by bird strikes during flight operations, particularly near urban or semi-urban airports.
Another airport official revealed that the same aircraft was scheduled to depart for Kolkata later in the day, but the onward journey has been halted until the aircraft is cleared for service. IndiGo has not issued an official statement on the incident as of yet.
Thanks to the professionalism of the crew and the calm of the passengers, what could have been a harrowing episode concluded without harm.