Flight Axed Mid-Taxi Due to Eagle Collision
An Air India Express flight bound for Bengaluru was abruptly cancelled on Thursday after being struck by an eagle on the runway at Vijayawada Airport. The incident occurred during taxiing, forcing the airline to take precautionary safety measures. Approximately 90 passengers were affected and have been offered rescheduling or full refunds.
Bird Strikes Raise Safety Alarms
This marks the second bird strike involving Air India Express in just 48 hours, increasing pressure on aviation authorities to reexamine bird control protocols near airports.
According to an airline official, “The bird strike happened before takeoff. It occurred when the aircraft was taxiing on the runway.”
Air India Express Response and Passenger Care
In a statement, the airline expressed regret over the inconvenience and clarified that the damage was caused by a bird strike beyond their control. Air India Express has committed to assisting affected passengers with flexible options.
Broader Implications for Aviation Safety
Bird strikes are a growing concern across airports globally. For India, incidents like this and the one involving an IndiGo flight earlier in the week highlight gaps in local wildlife mitigation systems.
As airports seek to expand service, especially at smaller or dual-use facilities like Hindon, the need for robust safety measures grows. Coordinated responses between airport operators and wildlife management experts are clearly overdue.
What Travelers Should Know
- Impact on passengers: Immediate cancellation led to significant disruption, with passengers offered rescheduling or refunds.
- Safety protocols: The incident underscores the need for enhanced wildlife hazard controls, particularly at busier or expanding regional airports.
- Wider relevance: Echoes of earlier incidents—from IndiGo’s diverted flight to ongoing Hindon terminal challenges—reflect deeper vulnerabilities in current aviation safety planning.
FAQs
A: An eagle struck the aircraft’s nose while it was taxiing on the runway at Vijayawada Airport, prompting a precautionary cancellation prior to takeoff.
A: Around 90 passengers were affected and given the option to reschedule their flight at no cost or receive a full refund.
A: Bird strikes are a growing concern. This was the second Air India Express incident in 48 hours, with similar cases reported recently for other airlines, raising questions around runway wildlife management.
In summary, this Bengaluru flight cancellation serves as a stark reminder of how wildlife hazards remain a real threat to aviation safety. As airlines and airports ramp up operations, particularly at regional terminals, integrated wildlife mitigation strategies and enhanced monitoring will be key to preventing similar disruptions and ensuring passenger confidence.
Sources:
Times of India
Indian Express
NDTV
