RAIPUR: An Air India flight from Delhi to Raipur suffered a bird hit while landing at Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur on Wednesday morning, leading to a detailed safety inspection and delaying its return journey to the national capital by nearly three hours.Officials said the aircraft landed safely at 8.08 am, a few minutes ahead of its scheduled arrival time of 8.15 am, when it struck a bird during the landing phase. No passengers or crew members were injured in the incident.Following the bird hit, the aircraft was immediately subjected to a comprehensive technical inspection as per aviation safety protocols. Engineers examined the aircraft, including its engines and other critical components, before clearing it for further operations.The same aircraft was scheduled to depart for Delhi at 8.55 am. However, the departure was delayed as the airline awaited technical clearance. After a couple of hours of inspection and safety checks, the aircraft was declared fit to fly and finally took off for Delhi.Airport sources said bird-hit incidents are treated seriously in the aviation sector as they can potentially damage aircraft engines and other vital systems. Standard operating procedures require a thorough inspection before an aircraft is allowed to resume service.Officials confirmed that no significant damage was detected during the examination and the aircraft completed its onward journey safely.Bird strikes remain a recurring challenge for airports across the country, particularly during the monsoon and post-monsoon periods when bird activity around airfields tends to increase.
