Thiruvananthapuram: A routine take-off at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport recently turned into a scary moment when a Bengaluru-bound IndiGo flight had to abort its departure. The reason? A bird hit — an eagle struck the aircraft during take-off on March 24. All 179 passengers were safe, but they were left stranded for over 13 hours as the runway was already closed for re-carpeting work.

This isn’t a one-off case. It was the fourth such incident this year. In 2024 alone, 13 confirmed bird hits have been reported at the airport, and in 2023, there were 17. So, what’s behind this growing risk?

What’s attracting birds near the airport?
The problem lies just outside the airport’s boundary in the capital city. Unauthorised slaughterhouses and open garbage dumping within 10 km of the airport continue to attract birds, especially scavengers like eagles and crows. This is a serious safety issue, as even a small bird strike can cause major damage to an aircraft during take-off or landing.

According to aviation rules, such activities — slaughtering animals or dumping waste — are not allowed near airports. But these rules are being ignored, and local authorities have struggled to take strong action.

What has been done so far?
Both the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Adani Group, which now runs the airport, have tried to control the problem using CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) funds. They’ve arranged for regular waste collection and disposal. These efforts have helped reduce bird hit cases a bit, but they haven’t solved the problem completely.

What’s the government planning now?
The issue caught the attention of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who recently held a meeting to tackle the bird menace more seriously. Several steps were suggested:

  • Centralising slaughterhouses and stopping public or unlicensed slaughtering
  • Processing slaughter waste using scientific methods
  • Installing CCTV cameras at waste disposal points
  • Taking action against those dumping garbage illegally
  • Spreading awareness in nearby communities about the risks of bird hits

The aim is to make the area around the airport completely garbage-free. Local groups like Kudumbashree and resident associations will be involved in awareness drives. A committee of airport officials, city Corporation members, and public representatives will oversee the action plan.

The state government wants to turn the airport surroundings into a clean and safe model area for the rest of the city. With stronger waste management and better cooperation among authorities, the hope is that flights will be safer and such incidents will be avoided in the future.