An Air India flight from Colombo to Chennai encountered a bird strike during landing on Tuesday afternoon, prompting precautionary safety measures. All 158 passengers and crew on board landed safely, officials confirmed.
The incident occurred shortly after the aircraft touched down at Chennai International Airport. Airport authorities reported that the bird strike did not cause visible damage to the plane, but Air India grounded the aircraft for inspection in line with standard safety protocols.
“The aircraft landed safely and all passengers are safe. The return flight was canceled as a precautionary measure,” an Air India spokesperson said.
Following the disruption, Air India arranged an alternate aircraft for 137 passengers scheduled to return to Colombo. The replacement flight later departed after a brief delay.
This is the second bird strike involving Air India in recent weeks. Last month, a Hyderabad–Visakhapatnam flight made an emergency landing after a suspected bird strike caused engine vibrations mid-air.
Aviation experts have raised concerns over the increasing frequency of bird strikes across Indian airports, particularly during the post-monsoon season. Authorities have intensified runway inspections and wildlife control measures near airports to minimize risks.
“While modern jet engines can handle minor strikes, even small birds can cause serious mechanical issues if ingested into the turbine,” said a senior DGCA official.
Bird strikes remain one of aviation’s most persistent safety challenges, with over 1,700 incidents reported annually in India. Regular airport audits, waste management around runways, and coordinated wildlife control remain key to reducing such occurrences.
