An Air India flight from Delhi to Patna reported a suspected bird strike while approaching Patna airport on Sunday morning, prompting authorities to activate emergency landing procedures as a precaution. The aircraft landed safely, and subsequent inspection confirmed the bird strike but found no damage to the engine.
Air India flight AI 1741 landed at 7.43am, following which airport authorities deployed fire and allied emergency services. The pilot had reported a suspected bird hit near the aircraft’s right turbine during the approach.
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After mandatory safety checks, the aircraft was cleared to operate its return service to Delhi. Flight AI 1852, carrying 160 passengers, eventually departed at 10.09am, around 79 minutes later than its scheduled departure time of 8.45am.
Rashtriya Janata Dal Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha, who was booked on AI 1852, opted to reschedule his journey and took Air India’s afternoon flight AI 2524 to Delhi.
The incident has renewed concerns over wildlife activity around Patna airport, particularly during the monsoon season. Officials said grass around the runway grows rapidly during this period, while mowing can expose insects and attract birds to areas close to aircraft operations.
The concerns were further highlighted during a routine inspection before flight operations began on Sunday, when airport personnel found the remains of a bat weighing around 1.5kg on the runway. Officials said no flight had reported a bird strike the previous evening.
Patna airport has witnessed another serious bird-hit incident this month. On August 17, an Air India Delhi-Patna flight suffered a bird strike that forced the aircraft to remain grounded for two days. Maintenance engineers were flown in from Delhi, and the aircraft was subsequently cleared for service following repairs, inspection and approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
To control wildlife activity, the Airports Authority of India has deployed bird chasers equipped with firearms and firecrackers around the operational area. However, officials said meat shops in the Phulwarisharif area surrounding the airport continue to pose a challenge, as they may attract birds and increase the risk of wildlife incursions.
AAI officials declined to comment on the recent incidents, while there was no response from airport director Chandra Pratap Dwivedi.
Bird and wildlife strikes remain a major aviation safety concern in India. Government data presented in Parliament in 2025 showed that Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport recorded the highest number of bird-hit incidents in the country over the preceding five years.
Under Civil Aviation Requirement regulations, airports are required to implement Wildlife Hazard Management Plans to identify and reduce risks posed by birds and other animals. These plans include bird-repellent measures, rodent control, habitat and insect management, as well as biological and chemical control measures.
With monsoon conditions increasing wildlife activity, aviation authorities face the challenge of keeping airport surroundings clear while ensuring that routine maintenance activities do not inadvertently attract birds towards operational areas.
