IndiGo airlines Airbus A320 suffers bird-hit at Bhubaneshwar

IndiGo airlines Airbus A320 VT-IGJAn Indigo airlines Airbus A320-232 registration VT-IGJ performing flight 6E-260 from Bhubaneshwar Biju Patnaik airport (IATA: BBI, ICAO: VEBS) to New Delhi Indira Gandhi international airport (IATA: DEL, ICAO: VIDP), India with 140 passengers and six crew suffered a bird hit on departure on the port side engine (engine number one) at around 10:00 (04:30Z) earlier this morning.

The plane returned to Bhubaneshwar and landed safely. All passengers were disembarked normally via stairs.

A replacement aircraft VT-INZ was sent to perform the flight and carry the passengers to Delhi, which left after a delay of about three and half hours. VT-IGJ remains grounded at BBI.

Bhubaneshwar has a major bird problem due to uncontrolled waste near the airport. Airlines have brought this to the attention of both the regulator the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the airport operator the Airports Authority of India but one would not hold their breath for an early solution.

Photo courtesy copyright holder Sriram Hariharan who reserves all rights.

About Devesh Agarwal

A electronics and automotive product management, marketing and branding expert, he was awarded a silver medal at the Lockheed Martin innovation competition 2010. He is ranked 6th on Mashable's list of aviation pros on Twitter and in addition to Bangalore Aviation, he has contributed to leading publications like Aviation Week, Conde Nast Traveller India, The Economic Times, and The Mint (a Wall Street Journal content partner). He remains a frequent flier and shares the good, the bad, and the ugly about the Indian aviation industry without fear or favour.

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