A Ranchi-bound IndiGo flight from Patna was forced to make an emergency landing after it was struck by a vulture at an altitude of around 4,000 feet near Ranchi, officials said on Monday, June 2. The incident occurred at approximately 1:14 PM, about 10 to 12 nautical miles from the city.
Birsa Munda Airport Director RR Maurya confirmed that the aircraft, carrying 175 passengers, landed safely, and no injuries were reported. “The aircraft suffered a dent from the bird strike. Engineers are currently assessing the damage,” he told PTI.
The aircraft was originally scheduled to continue on to Kolkata after reaching Ranchi. IndiGo has yet to release an official statement on the incident.
Bird strikes remain a common hazard in aviation, particularly during takeoff and landing. Airlines routinely inspect aircraft thoroughly after such incidents before clearing them for service.
In a separate event on Sunday, another IndiGo flight – Flight 6E 6313 from Raipur to Delhi – faced severe turbulence due to a dust storm while approaching Delhi airport. The pilot aborted the landing, climbing back into the air to wait for conditions to improve.
The aircraft eventually landed safely after circling the airport. A video of the event went viral on social media. According to the pilot’s announcement, wind speeds reached up to 80 km/h during the storm.
