Patna: An IndiGo flight en route to Delhi was forced to return to Patna shortly after take-off on Wednesday morning following a bird strike incident that affected one of its engines.
Flight IGO5009 took off from runway 07 at Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport at 8:42 am (IST) when it experienced a bird strike. During a subsequent runway inspection, airport director confirmed the presence of bird remains, suggesting a confirmed hit. The information was promptly relayed to the aircraft by the approach control unit.
Shortly after take-off, the aircraft reported engine vibration and requested clearance to return to Patna. A local standby was declared, activating emergency protocols at the airport.
The aircraft landed safely at 9:03 am, just 21 minutes after departure. There were 175 passengers on board, all of whom were unharmed. Emergency response teams remained on standby, but their intervention was not required as the landing was uneventful.
Airport director praised the crew’s swift decision-making and adherence to safety protocols, which ensured passenger safety.
Flight operations at the airport were briefly impacted but resumed shortly thereafter.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is expected to conduct a detailed investigation into the incident. Bird strikes are a known hazard during take-off and landing phases, particularly at airports with nearby open grounds or water bodies.
