IndiGo’s Kolkata flight diverted back to Nagpur after bird hit, cancelled for the day
IndiGo says it made alternative travel arrangements or a full refund for passengers who were on the Airbus A320-251N plane bound for Kolkata.
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The bird strike resulted in damage to the front of the aircraft, as per sources. (File photo)An IndiGo aircraft flying from Nagpur to Kolkata was diverted back to its point of origin on Tuesday morning after it experienced a bird hit just after taking off, the airline said in a statement.
Flight 6E 812, an Airbus A320-251N aircraft, took off from Nagpur at approximately 7 am but soon took a U-turn, with pilots choosing precautionary landing procedures. The plane landed securely at Nagpur airport, where it was grounded for inspection.
“IndiGo flight 6E 812 flying from Nagpur to Kolkata on 02 September 2025 had a bird hit shortly after taking off. As a precautionary measure, pilots decided to return and landed safely at the Nagpur airport,” the airline’s spokesperson said in the statement.
After the incident, the plane was inspected by engineers, who found that there was a need for additional checks and maintenance. “Due to the necessity of required inspection and maintenance of the aircraft, the flight has been cancelled for the day,” read the IndiGo statement.
The airline further stated that it helped the passengers on the flight with various alternatives. “In order to reduce inconvenience to our customers, we provided them with refreshments, made alternate travel arrangements and/or a full refund on cancellation, if so desired. The inconvenience caused due to this unexpected situation is deeply regretted. Safety and security of our customers and crew is our prime concern,” IndiGo said.
The bird strike resulted in damage to the front of the aircraft, as per sources. The affected aircraft was on the ground while IndiGo scheduled another plane later in the day for subsequent scheduled flights, including a flight to Dubai, which took off from Nagpur at around 1.45 pm.
Bird strikes continue to be an ongoing issue for airlines in India, particularly for airports near wetlands, agricultural land, or dumping grounds. Figures from the industry indicate that precautionary landings made because of such strikes, although inconvenient to schedules, are standard safety measures taken by airlines to avoid dangers in flight.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) requires a thorough inspection of aircraft involved in bird strikes prior to clearance for further use. IndiGo, in this instance, affirmed adherence to the directive by grounding the plane for maintenance.
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