A Bengaluru-bound Air India Express flight was cancelled on Thursday after it suffered a bird strike while taxiing at Vijayawada airport. According to officials, an eagle struck the nose of the aircraft just before takeoff, forcing the airline to cancel the service and make alternate arrangements for passengers.
Incident details
The airline official said the incident occurred during taxiing on the runway. “The bird strike happened before takeoff. It occurred when the aircraft was taxiing on the runway,” the official confirmed. There were 90 passengers on board at the time.
Airline statement
Later in the day, Air India Express issued an official statement acknowledging the incident. “The aircraft assigned to operate the Vijayawada–Bengaluru flight experienced a suspected bird strike at Vijayawada airport, leading to the cancellation of the service. We regret the inconvenience caused by circumstances beyond the airline’s control,” the statement read.
Passenger arrangements
The airline further clarified that all affected passengers were provided with options, including complimentary rescheduling of their tickets or cancellation with a full refund. Ground staff at Vijayawada airport assisted travellers in making alternate travel arrangements.
Conclusion
The cancellation highlighted the frequent risk of bird strikes at airports across the country. While no injuries were reported in this incident, airline authorities stressed that such precautions are essential to ensure passenger safety.