Air India Nagpur–Delhi flight returns after bird hit shortly after take-off

Magpur: An Air India flight operating from Nagpur to Delhi on Friday was forced to return to its origin after a bird strike shortly after take-off. According to an Air India spokesperson quoted by ANI, flight AI466 returned as a precautionary measure, following standard operating procedure, to allow for a technical inspection of the aircraft.

The airline said the aircraft landed safely at Nagpur airport, and no injuries were reported among passengers or crew. Maintenance checks were subsequently conducted, which required additional time for rectification, leading to the cancellation of the flight. The ground team provided assistance to passengers, including meals and support during the delay.

Earlier this week, a separate Air India flight from Mumbai to Newark, AI191, also returned to Mumbai after the crew detected a suspected technical issue mid-air. The aircraft landed safely at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.

In another recent incident, an IndiGo flight from Kolkata to Srinagar made an emergency landing in Varanasi following a fuel leak.

The Air India flight AI466, bound for Delhi, took off from Nagpur airport on Friday morning but encountered a bird strike soon after departure. Following standard safety protocols, the crew opted to return to Nagpur for inspection.

An Air India spokesperson stated, “The crew decided to return to Nagpur as a precautionary measure, as per standard operating procedure, for inspection of the aircraft.” The aircraft was later declared safe to handle, but maintenance checks revealed the need for extended rectification, resulting in the flight’s cancellation.

Air India confirmed that all passengers were safe and were assisted by ground staff during the delay. “Our ground team at Nagpur provided immediate assistance to the passengers, including serving meals to them,” the airline said.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was informed of the incident, and standard inspection protocols were initiated.

This comes just days after another Air India flight, AI191 from Mumbai to Newark, returned mid-air due to a suspected technical alert. The incident adds to a series of precautionary returns undertaken by Indian carriers in recent weeks, reflecting heightened adherence to safety norms across the aviation sector.