Air India Flight from Nagpur to Delhi Cancelled After Mid-Air Bird Hit, Major Accident Averted

Nagpur: An Air India flight from Nagpur to Delhi was forced to return and later cancelled after a bird strike shortly after takeoff. The incident, which occurred on October 24, could have led to a serious accident, but the alertness of the flight crew prevented any mishap.

According to reports, the Air India flight AI466 took off from Nagpur Airport when it collided with a bird mid-air. The pilots immediately decided to return to Nagpur following standard safety procedures. The aircraft landed safely back at Nagpur Airport, where a detailed inspection was conducted as per safety protocol.

During the maintenance check, engineers confirmed that the aircraft had sustained damage due to the bird strike, prompting the airline to cancel the flight for the day.

Air India Spokesperson’s Statement

An Air India spokesperson said, “Flight AI466 operating from Nagpur to Delhi experienced a bird hit shortly after takeoff. As per standard operating procedures, the crew decided to return to Nagpur for a detailed inspection. The aircraft landed safely and underwent maintenance checks, which required additional time, leading to the cancellation of the flight. Our ground team at Nagpur provided immediate assistance to passengers, including meal services and refunds.”

Second Bird Strike in a Month

The flight was carrying around 150 passengers, all of whom were safely accommodated or refunded. Officials said that bird monitoring teams remain deployed round the clock at Nagpur Airport. However, during nighttime operations, spotting birds or bats becomes challenging.

Sources also noted that around the festive season of Diwali, loud firecracker sounds usually drive birds away from the airport area. This is the second such incident in Nagpur within a month. Earlier, another Air India aircraft had suffered a damaged nose cone after a bird strike, and a dead hawk was found on the runway post-inspection.

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Air India bird strike, Nagpur Delhi flight cancelled, Air India flight news, AI466 bird hit, Nagpur airport incident, India aviation news, flight safety India, Air India latest updates, bird strike India news

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