Aircraft bird strike incidents rise by 49.3% in January-July period

DGCA official says all airport operators advised to conduct awareness campaigns in schools and localities around airports regarding proper garbage disposal

Ten days back, an Akasa Air flight flying to Bengaluru returned to Mumbai as one of the plane's engines suffered a bird hit, resulting in foul odour within the cabin.

Such bird strike incidents are only increasing in India, DGCA data shows, as airlines are boosting their flight operations after being battered by the pandemic for approximately two years.

There were 974 bird strike incidents (49.3 per cent increase) across the country in the January-July period of 2022 as compared to the corresponding period of 2021, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) data that has been reviewed