Patna: A major aviation scare was averted at Patna’s Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport on Monday when an Air India flight arriving from Delhi struck a bird during its landing approach. The aircraft, operating as flight AI 1741, landed safely despite the incident.
All 164 passengers on board the flight were reported safe, and there were no reports of injuries.
Bird Hit Occurs During Landing
According to reports, Air India flight AI 1741 was travelling from Delhi to Patna when the bird strike occurred after the aircraft entered Patna airspace and was approaching the runway.
The pilot responded promptly and successfully brought the aircraft down safely at Patna Airport at around 8 am.
The incident caused concern among passengers, but the situation remained under control after the aircraft completed its landing.
Engineers Inspect Aircraft After Landing
Following the bird strike, airport authorities and a team of engineers inspected the aircraft to check for possible technical damage or faults.
The aircraft remained at Patna Airport while the technical assessment was carried out. Its onward departure to Delhi was reportedly delayed due to the inspection.
The technical team is expected to determine whether the aircraft sustained any damage as a result of the bird strike before it is cleared for further operation.
Passengers Arranged for Alternate Flight
As the aircraft remained under inspection, arrangements were reportedly made to transport passengers to Delhi on another aircraft.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha was also scheduled to travel to Delhi on the same flight.
Airport Security and Vigilance Increased
Following the incident, airport authorities briefly heightened vigilance around the airport. Officials monitored the situation and ensured that the aircraft and passengers were handled safely.
With all 164 passengers safe and no injuries reported, the incident ended without further complications.
