An Akasa Air aircraft operating flight QP 1607 from Pune to Delhi suffered a bird hit on Friday morning but landed safely in the national capital shortly after 10 am. All passengers and crew were safely deplaned from the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft upon arrival in Delhi, the airline said. In a statement to The Indian Express, the airline said: “The aircraft is being examined by our engineering team in accordance with Akasa Air’s standard operating procedures and will be released for service after a thorough inspection. At Akasa Air, safety continues to be our top priority”. This incident comes months after a similar case involving Air India flight AI2470, which was scheduled to fly from Pune to Delhi on June 20, this year, but was cancelled after a bird hit was detected on the incoming aircraft. The aircraft was grounded for extensive checks, and passengers were offered refunds, complimentary rescheduling, and accommodation, as Air India prioritised safety over schedule. As reported by The Indian Express earlier, bird strikes are among the most common threats to aircraft safety, typically occurring during take-off or landing. Dozens of bird strike incidents happen each day, though most are minor. Usually, when birds collide with the airframe, it does not cause major issues for pilots. However, in some cases, birds are ingested into the aircraft’s engines, potentially damaging the power plants and requiring detailed inspections before the plane is cleared to fly again. The writer is an intern with The Indian Express
