IndiGo flight to Delhi makes emergency landing in Patna after bird hit
In a similar incident, an IndiGo flight was aborted just minutes before take off in Bhubaneshwar last month. Kolkata-bound flight 6E 6101 was aborted due to a bird strike while the flight was on the runway, an IndiGo official said.According to sources, the pilot informed Air Traffic Control about some technical snag, after which the take-off was halted.The airline later confirmed the incident and said that the flight was aborted following a bird strike on the runway.- EndsInputs from PTIMust Watch
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
7 hours ago
- The Hindu
Quality concerns continue to haunt Polavaram project, despite foreign experts' recommendations
Despite repeated recommendations from a team of international experts, it appears no significant steps have been taken to implement quality control measures in the execution of the Polavaram irrigation project. The Union Ministry of Jal Shakti has been persistent in pushing for action, but progress on this front remains sluggish. Six months after the work began on the reconstruction of the diaphragm wall, only 30% of the structure has been completed, and critical quality control mechanisms are yet to be fully operationalised. According to information, the manual and guidelines relating to quality control are yet to be published. A draft manual prepared by the Andhra Pradesh Engineering Research Institute (AFRI) is still awaiting approval from several Central and State-level agencies, including the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, Central Water Commission (CWC), Polavaram Project Authority (PPA), and the A.P. Water Resources Department. The delay in approval of the draft manual is due to objections raised by some agencies, sources say. Structural setbacks During the construction of the Polavaram project, serious structural setbacks have occurred, with the old diaphragm wall—built at a cost of hundreds of crores—having been damaged. Additionally, the 'guide-bund', valued at nearly ₹100 crore, suffered damage. Uncontrolled seepage through both the upper and lower cofferdams has caused substantial losses, forcing the government to spend more to manage the excess water discharge. Although work on the new diaphragm wall began six months ago, only 30% of the construction has been completed so far. After much delay, a third-party quality control agency has been selected. Until now, quality inspections were handled internally by the contractor and the State's engineering departments. However, the foreign expert committee, after reviewing the project, emphasised the need for an independent monitoring mechanism, citing the central role being played by the contractor not only in executing but also in designing and reviewing the works. Third-party quality assurance The experts also recommended that a robust third-party quality assurance mechanism should be in place to ensure neutrality and transparency. It took the government nearly six months to finalise the appointment of the third party. Consultations were initially held with reputed institutions like IIT, Tirupati and the National Institute of Building Construction. However, the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti did not approve the proposed arrangements, prompting the government to issue tenders. 'Eventually, a Delhi-based firm with over 45 years of experience—ADCO—was selected. This firm will be entrusted with the responsibility of setting up a dedicated laboratory at the Polavaram project site to conduct material and construction quality tests,' sources say. At this juncture, the absence of a finalised manual that defines clear quality standards for various components of the project is a key bottleneck. Experts believe that the roles and responsibilities of each agency, particularly in terms of quality control, must be specified clearly. The manual should lay down unambiguous protocols for testing procedures and assign accountability for each segment of the work, along with the authority responsible. The third-party agency is also expected to set up an independent laboratory with the necessary equipment and resources to conduct real-time quality checks at the site. Until such systems are put firmly in place, concerns about structural integrity and long-term reliability will continue to overshadow the state's most ambitious irrigation project, sources say.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
Indian airports see three bird strikes a day, says DGCA in RTI reply
Hyderabad: Indian airports are recording at least three bird strikes daily, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has revealed in a reply to a Right to Information (RTI) request. As per the RTI reply, the confirmed bird strikes reported to the DGCA during 2024 stood at 1,278. When comparing this with data from the civil aviation ministry for preceding years, such incidents witnessed a twofold increase over the past six years. In 2019, the annual bird hit count was 528. The situation has become particularly concerning in recent times, with four aircraft being forced to make an emergency landing in the last month. On July 9, a Delhi-bound flight carrying 169 passengers encountered a bird strike immediately after taking off from Patna airport and returned to its origin. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad The MoCA data shows that among all cities, Delhi recorded the highest number of bird strikes during 2020–23, with 512 incidents. Mumbai followed with 260 incidents, Ahmedabad with 226, and Bengaluru with 214 bird strikes. Hyderabad registered 143 bird strikes during the same period. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Aviation experts say that aircraft encounters with birds predominantly happen when planes are closest to the ground, specifically during take-off, early ascent, and landing. These incidents are frequent at lower altitudes where birds are typically found in greater numbers. The likelihood of such collisions is influenced by various factors, including the natural behaviour of birds, surrounding habitats, and seasonal migration routes, experts said. 'When birds collide with aircraft engines, it necessitates switching to an alternate engine and executing an emergency landing. Similarly, bird strikes on the windshield require immediate action. Certain types of damage, particularly to components like wings, become apparent only after the aircraft lands. These collisions typically happen at lower altitudes, around 2,000 feet, although bird strikes can occur even when aircraft are flying at 10,000 feet,' said Capt CS Randhawa, president, Federation of Indian Pilots, told TOI. According to GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL), robust and technology-driven bird control strategies, including high-frequency acoustic devices, have been deployed near the runways to deter bird movement. Trained staff use firecrackers at regular intervals to create sound deterrents during active runway hours, while grass near operational areas is routinely cleared to remove nesting opportunities and prevent food waste and litter accumulation around the airport premises. 'While the airport continues to strengthen in-house measures, maintaining airside safety is also influenced by surrounding land use. Nearby areas such as Katedan and Jalpally, which house some waste-processing units, have occasionally been flagged for non-compliance with environmental norms,' said an official in GHIAL. Vultures give way to black kites According to 'Wildlife Collisions to Aircraft in India - A Comparative Analysis of Hazardous Species Involved in Different Time Periods', the number of species involved in bird hits has almost doubled. Serious strikes due to vultures are negligible, with black kites now accounting for most of the hits. In the recent past, black kites are the cause of the highest damage and also have the highest probability of causing damage (61.17%) when struck. The number of damage-causing incidents involving various critical species for the period from 2005 to 2018 includes bats, lapwings, swifts, rock pigeons, larks, thick-knees, sparrows, swallows, doves, cattle egrets, and Indian rollers, the study added. GFX 1 States with highest number of bird hits (2020-23): City Bird hits Delhi 512 Mumbai 260 Ahmedabad 226 Bengaluru 214 Chennai 144 Hyderabad 143 Kochi 139 Kolkata 93 GFX: 2 Breakdown of species involved (2005 to 2018) Species Total incidents Black kite 85 Bats 68 Lapwings 82 Swifts 75 Rock pigeons 40 Lark 52 Swallows 60 Indian roller 18 18 Dove 20 Others 238
Mint
14 hours ago
- Mint
Air India's Hong Kong–Delhi flight catches fire after landing at airport – 'Passengers safe, aircraft grounded'
An Air India flight arriving from Hong Kong reported a fire incident shortly after landing at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on Tuesday. All passengers and crew members were safely evacuated, although the aircraft sustained minor damage. The incident took place on Flight AI 315, which landed in Delhi on the evening of July 22. The fire broke out in the aircraft's auxiliary power unit (APU) after it had parked at the gate and while passengers had begun disembarking. Confirming the incident, an Air India spokesperson said, "Flight AI 315, operating from Hong Kong to Delhi on 22 July 2025, experienced an auxiliary power unit (APU) fire shortly after it had landed and parked at the gate. The incident occurred while passengers had begun disembarking, and the APU was automatically shut down as per system design." The airline added that, "There was some damage to the aircraft; however, passengers and crew members disembarked normally and are safe. The aircraft has been grounded for further investigations and the regulator has been duly notified." Officials from Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) confirmed the fire was promptly extinguished and said that a detailed investigation is currently underway. Air India made headlines on Monday due to two separate aircraft-related incidents. At Delhi airport, a Kolkata-bound Air India flight was forced to abort takeoff because of a technical snag. Meanwhile, flight AI2744 from Kochi torain at Mumbai airport."> Mumbai veered off the runway while landing in heavy rain at Mumbai airport. 'The aircraft taxied safely to the gate, and all passengers and crew members have since disembarked. The aircraft has been grounded for checks,' an Air India spokesperson confirmed. Following the incident, one of the runways at Mumbai airport was temporarily closed. In a separate case, an IndiGo flight from Goa to Indore, carrying 140 passengers, made an emergency landing at Indore airport due to a technical issue with its landing gear.
