Airlines India, Indian Airlines

24/9/2006

Bird hit Air India flight makes emergency landing

An Air India flight bound for Frankfurt was forced to return to New Delhi and make and emergency landing on Monday after a bird hit and damaged an engine, the airport said. There were no injuries.

The Indira Gandhi International airport went onto emergency footing as the plane, flight AI-137, landed there.

No further details were immediately available.

The airport has recently turned to wildlife agencies to help find a method to clear the birds form the area, the Times Of India newspaper reported.

The airport is plagued by bird strikes because it is situated near a neighbourhood that has dozens of outdoor meat shops that attract the birds. Also, inefficient garbage collection draws the birds to the area.

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