Bird Strike Forces Bengaluru-Bound IndiGo Flight To Abort Takeoff In Thiruvananthapuram

The bird strike incident occurred at around 7:30 AM when an eagle struck the left engine of IndiGo flight 6E 6629 as it was accelerating for takeoff.

A passenger on board commended the pilots for their quick decision-making, stating that their immediate response helped prevent a potential disaster.

Source : Pixabay

A Bengaluru-bound IndiGo flight was forced to abort takeoff after a bird strike at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on Monday morning, leaving passengers temporarily stranded. The incident occurred at around 7:30 AM when an eagle struck the left engine of IndiGo flight 6E 6629 as it was accelerating for takeoff. 

A press release said, "IndiGo flight 6E 6629 operating from Thiruvananthapuram to Bengaluru on March 24th had returned to its bay due to bird strike. The aircraft will be back in operations after necessary maintenance. Customers were offered with refreshments in the interim, and our team was available at contact points to assist customers."

Pilot's Quick Thinking Averts Crisis

Acting swiftly, the pilots applied brakes and safely brought the aircraft to a stop ensuring the safety of all 179 passengers and crew members on board.

Following the incident, the aircraft was moved to the maintenance yard for inspection and repairs. Passengers were later accommodated on an alternative flight at 6:30 PM to Bengaluru, according to airport officials, as per a report on PTI.

A passenger on board commended the pilots for their quick decision-making, stating that their immediate response helped prevent a potential disaster.

Meanwhile, concerns over bird strikes at the airport persist. A city corporation proposal to establish a meat rendering plant near the airport—aimed at reducing illegal slaughterhouses that attract birds—was recently scrapped amid raising questions about ongoing efforts to mitigate aviation hazards, as reported by Times of India.