Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: Passengers of a New Delhi-Bhubaneswar Vistara flight had a narrow escape Thursday morning when a bird hit the plane’s nose when it was preparing to land at Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) here.
The Airbus 320 aircraft, which had 50 passengers and seven crew members on board, however, managed to make a safe landing. The front part of the aircraft was damaged in the accident, and the damage was detected soon after the flight landed at 8.22 am, said airline sources.
“Vistara reported a bird hit at 8:45 am. But no unfortunate incident was reported. All the passengers are safe,” said BPIA director R Mahalingam. The aircraft was hit by a bird about 70 km away from the airport, he added.
A statement from the airline said: “Vistara flight UK 709, from Delhi to Bhubaneswar, experienced a bird hit on approach this morning and had a safe landing at Biju Patnaik International Airport. All 50 passengers and seven crew members on board the Airbus 320 aircraft are safe”.
Shivam Sharda, a passenger in the plane, told Orissa POST, “During the landing, the aircraft faced a heavy turbulence that we passengers could feel, and it was a scary experience for all of us. We are happy that the plane somehow managed to make a safe landing.
Air Traffic Control (ATC) officials said the aircraft faced the bird hit mid air, around 70 km off the airport. Vistara’s engineering team arrived at the airport at 11 am and took stock of the damage suffered by the aircraft, said the sources.
The incident caused the airline to cancel the return flight to Delhi – UK 983 – since the damaged plane was supposed to take off to Delhi at 8:55 am. Although Vistara’s station manger declined to comment on the issue, several city-based travel agents informed that the airline made alternative arrangements for its Delhi-bound passengers.