Chennai, Oct 7: An Air India flight from Colombo to Chennai carrying 158 passengers suffered a bird hit on Tuesday, prompting the airline to cancel its scheduled return flight, airport authorities said.
Officials confirmed that the aircraft landed safely at Chennai airport, and all passengers were safely disembarked. The bird strike was detected after the plane touched down, following which engineers conducted a detailed inspection.
“The aircraft has been grounded for safety checks, and the return flight to Colombo has been cancelled,” airport officials said.
To ensure minimal disruption, Air India arranged an alternative aircraft for 137 passengers, who later departed for Colombo.
The incident highlights the continued challenges of bird strikes at major airports, often leading to flight delays, safety inspections, and operational disruptions.