An Air India flight from Delhi to Pune suffered a bird hit on Friday, prompting the airline to cancel its return leg to the capital. The incident occurred after the aircraft safely landed in Pune, where the damage was detected during routine checks.
In a statement, Air India confirmed that the aircraft has been grounded for thorough inspection by its engineering team. As a result, flight AI2470—scheduled to operate from Pune to Delhi on June 20—has been cancelled.
The airline assured that it is taking all necessary steps to assist affected passengers. "We are providing accommodation for stranded travellers and offering full refunds or complimentary rescheduling for those who prefer to adjust their travel plans," Air India said.
Alternative arrangements are also being made to fly passengers to Delhi, the airline added.
While bird hits are not uncommon in aviation, airlines typically take such incidents seriously to ensure passenger safety through detailed aircraft inspections before resuming operations.
"Flight AI2470, scheduled to operate from Pune to Delhi on 20 June 2025, has been cancelled due to a bird hit which was detected after the incoming flight landed safely at Pune. The aircraft has been grounded to carry out extensive checks. Alternative arrangements are being made to fly the passengers to Delhi," Air India said in a statement.