An IndiGo flight from Patna to Ranchi was forced to make an emergency landing on Monday afternoon after a midair bird strike damaged the aircraft. The Airbus A320, carrying around 175 passengers and crew, was hit by a vulture at an altitude of 3,000 to 4,000 feet, approximately 10–12 nautical miles from Ranchi.
The aircraft landed safely at Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi at around 1:14 pm. No injuries were reported, and all passengers and crew members were unharmed. However, the aircraft’s nose sustained a dent from the impact and is currently being assessed by engineers.
The flight was originally scheduled to continue to Kolkata after its stop in Ranchi. The incident has caused a delay in operations, and no official comment has been made by IndiGo so far.
Emergency landings due to bird strikes are not uncommon, but the size and height of the vulture involved have raised fresh concerns about flight safety in the region.