COIMBATORE: An Air Arabia flight from Sharjah to Coimbatore was grounded after a bat hit the aircraft at the funnel area of the runway while landing here on Friday.
According to sources, the flight had been grounded for an inspection by a team of experts. Sources said that the incident happened around 3.40 am when the flight was approaching the runway. Suddenly the pilot noticed that some thing has hit the flap or wind regulator of the aircraft. Though the flight landed safely with the passengers, a team of experts were moved in to check the condition of the plane and repair it.
Expressing surprise over incident, an official said that the movements of bats in the funnel area was a dangerous one and it has to be ascertained and studied how the bats were coming into that region of the runway. But the airport has reported 13 incidents of bird-hits in 2013-14 and the maximum number was reported at the airport here was 19 in 2011-12.
Apart from peacock and kites that are common, red-wattled lapwing was identified as a big threat to aircraft.