An Indigo airlines Airbus A320-232 registration VT-IGJ performing flight 6E-260 from Bhubaneshwar Biju Patnaik airport (IATA: BBI, ICAO: VEBS) to New Delhi Indira Gandhi international airport (IATA: DEL, ICAO: VIDP), India with 140 passengers and six crew suffered a bird hit on departure on the port side engine (engine number one) at around 10:00 (04:30Z) earlier this morning.
The plane returned to Bhubaneshwar and landed safely. All passengers were disembarked normally via stairs.
A replacement aircraft VT-INZ was sent to perform the flight and carry the passengers to Delhi, which left after a delay of about three and half hours. VT-IGJ remains grounded at BBI.
Bhubaneshwar has a major bird problem due to uncontrolled waste near the airport. Airlines have brought this to the attention of both the regulator the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the airport operator the Airports Authority of India but one would not hold their breath for an early solution.
Photo courtesy copyright holder Sriram Hariharan who reserves all rights.
Just Me 