PATNA: An Air India flight from Delhi to Patna carrying 164 passengers was hit by a bird while landing at Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport in Patna on Monday morning, marking the second such incident at the Bihar capital’s airport within a week.
Flight AI 1741 landed safely at 7:43 am, following which airport authorities activated the emergency landing protocol and deployed fire and other emergency services as a precaution.
According to airport officials, the pilot reported a suspected bird strike near the aircraft’s right engine while approaching the runway. A post-landing inspection confirmed the bird strike but found no damage to the engine.
After completing mandatory safety checks, the aircraft was cleared to operate its return flight to Delhi. Flight AI 1852, carrying 160 passengers, departed at 10:09 am, 79 minutes behind its scheduled departure time of 8:45 am.
Meanwhile, a runway inspection is being conducted by officials, sources said.