📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Apurba Biswas
National
Bird strike forces emergency landing of Delhi‑Patna flight, 164 aboard
✍️ Bhaskar English
🗓 24 Aug 2026, 05:36 PM
👁 4
A Delhi‑Patna domestic flight was hit by a bird, prompting an emergency landing at Patna airport with 164 passengers on board. It is the second bird‑strike incident at the airport within a week.
A scheduled domestic flight operating between Delhi and Patna encountered a bird strike shortly after take‑off, forcing the crew to execute an emergency landing at Patna Airport. All 164 passengers and crew were safely disembarked after the aircraft came to a halt on the runway.
Airport officials confirmed that the bird impact affected the aircraft's engine performance, prompting the pilots to follow standard emergency procedures. No injuries were reported, and the airline announced that the flight would be rescheduled once the aircraft undergoes a technical check.
This incident marks the second bird‑strike at Patna Airport in the past seven days, raising concerns about wildlife management around the airfield. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been notified and a preliminary investigation has been launched to identify the species involved and assess the effectiveness of existing bird‑control measures.
Authorities have urged airlines and the airport authority to intensify bird‑hazard mitigation, including habitat modification and use of deterrent devices, to prevent further disruptions to air traffic in the region.
Airport officials confirmed that the bird impact affected the aircraft's engine performance, prompting the pilots to follow standard emergency procedures. No injuries were reported, and the airline announced that the flight would be rescheduled once the aircraft undergoes a technical check.
This incident marks the second bird‑strike at Patna Airport in the past seven days, raising concerns about wildlife management around the airfield. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been notified and a preliminary investigation has been launched to identify the species involved and assess the effectiveness of existing bird‑control measures.
Authorities have urged airlines and the airport authority to intensify bird‑hazard mitigation, including habitat modification and use of deterrent devices, to prevent further disruptions to air traffic in the region.