In the wake of the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on June 12, which has raised fresh concerns over air safety, Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (NSCBI) is tackling a persistent threat: bird strikes. These strikes pose a tangible risk to aircraft during take-off and landing.
“The suspected bird hit cases in the last five years are over 300. Even a small bird can cause severe damage to a fast-moving aircraft, including engine failure, structural damage, or compromised control,” said a senior airport authority official.
Data from the past six years reveal a troubling trend. NSCBI Airport has recorded 109 confirmed bird strike cases in this period, with 2023 witnessing the highest — 25 cases. In 2024, there were 24 confirmed cases, and already 10 have been reported in the first five months, till May 2025.
The numbers in previous years stood at 10 in 2020, 22 in 2021, and 11 in 2022.
Officials point to a major culprit: garbage dumping grounds in close proximity to the airport.
The Belghoria Expressway Dump Yard in Pramodnagar, situated just 5,269 metres from the airport’s Aerodrome Reference Point (ARP), is a key concern. This dump yard, used by multiple municipalities, attracts a wide range of birds by providing an abundant food source, making it a major hazard in the flight path.
The Chairperson of the Aerodrome Environment Management Committee (AEMC) has reportedly urged the District Magistrate of North 24 Parganas to intervene, including identifying alternative locations for waste disposal. “Bird strikes are a serious global safety concern for aviation,” said veteran pilot Sarvesh Gupta.
“It is we who go into their airspace, not the other way around. The extent of damage from a bird strike depends on where the bird hits and the indicators that follow. Not all bird hits result in emergency landings; pilots monitor engine and flight parameters to decide the course of action.”
Stressing on the need for preventive steps Gupta said, “Within the airport, measures include deploying bird chasers, electronic deterrents, maintaining clean drainage with grills, and clearing dense vegetation and tall grass. Scarecrows with reflective material can also help.”
“Outside the airport, dump yards, fisheries, and meat shops within a 10-nautical-mile radius are banned as they attract birds. Regular inspections with municipal authorities are necessary to identify and address other problematic zones,” he added.
Gupta also called for awareness drives involving sanitation and civic staff. “Frequent meetings with all stakeholders and educating ground workers is key to keeping birds away.”
Airport authorities have deployed a multi-pronged approach: bird chasers with crackers and zone guns, hooter sirens from apron control jeeps, and physical deterrents like spikes on structures. An operational map of bird chaser posts around primary runway 19L reflects these sustained efforts.
Despite these measures, officials admit they are fighting an uphill battle. While the State Urban Development Authority (SUDA) and municipal bodies have taken some steps, including reducing garbage heap heights, the proximity of major dump sites, to a vital international airport continues to pose a significant threat.
“This has been a consistent problem. Our aim is zero bird hits. We’ve engaged an external agency for detailed studies of bird activity around the airport. The presence of unhygienic meat and fish markets and open dumps near the ARP directly correlates with bird attraction,” said Airport Director Pravat Ranjan Beuria.
With air travel impacting millions, Kolkata Airport’s battle against bird strikes underscores the pressing need for lasting, systemic solutions prioritizing passenger safety. Decisive action is imperative, and the time for it is now. “It’s a wake-up call for more stringent regulations, better urban planning, and greater collaboration between aviation authorities and local governments,” said another official.
Recently, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) engaged an external agency to conduct a bird activity study within a 13-km radius of the ARP, following International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) guidelines. The agency has identified 74 bird species in this critical zone.
As part of mitigation, the agency is employing Plant Growth Regulators (PGR), stickers and spreaders to control grass growth, along with Paclobutrazol (an organic compound that is used as a plant growth retardant and triazole fungicide) to limit weed tillering — steps aimed at removing food sources and cover for birds.
Among key attractors is a meat and fish market located just 1.114 km from the ARP.
Another — Salua Market — lies 1.27 km from the Runway 01R threshold.
Despite claims of regular cleaning by municipal officials, on-ground inspections reveal fish scales, meat waste, clogged drains and garbage dumped in the open.
“These unhygienic conditions undeniably attract many of the 74 bird species identified. The market’s proximity to the ARP makes it a critical area that requires intervention,” said an official.
The Salua Market along Rajarhat Main Road also contributes to the overall wildlife presence near the airport.
Spikes on railings and scarecrows — some of the measures taken to keep the birds away from the airport area. (Express Photo) 
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