IndiGo Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Ranchi After Vulture Strike Mid-Air

Ranchi: An IndiGo flight was forced to make an emergency landing at Ranchi's Birsa Munda Airport on Monday after it collided mid-air with a vulture, triggering safety concerns. All 175 passengers and crew members on board were reported safe, officials confirmed.

The Airbus A320 was flying on the Patna-Ranchi-Kolkata route when the incident occurred at an altitude of around 3,000 to 4,000 feet. Following the bird strike, the pilot opted for an emergency landing as a precautionary measure.

The aircraft remained in the air for nearly 40 minutes as the crew assessed the situation and prepared for a safe landing. Despite the impact, the pilot maintained control and successfully landed the plane at Ranchi airport around 2 p.m.

Passengers experienced a brief moment of panic after the collision, but the cabin crew quickly reassured them that there was no immediate danger and that a precautionary landing was underway.

Relieved passengers applauded upon landing safely, and airport authorities commended the pilot for his professionalism and timely response.

“The pilot acted quickly and efficiently. All passengers are safe. Our engineering team is currently inspecting the aircraft to determine the extent of the damage,” an airport official said.

The aircraft will remain grounded until a thorough inspection is completed and clearance is granted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

This is not an isolated incident. Just last month, on May 8, a Delhi-Ranchi Air India Express flight (IX 116) encountered a technical issue after a pigeon became stuck in its wing. A post-landing inspection found one dead and one live pigeon in the engine blades, forcing the flight’s cancellation.

With inputs from IANS