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Journalism of Courage
Around 135 passengers aboard Indigo’s Pune-New Delhi flight (6E 136) had a providential escape when the flight encountered a deer on the runway at 7.40 pm on Friday. Luckily, the flight took off and reached New Delhi safely around 10 pm, but the animal lay smashed on the airstrip.
“During take-off, the pilot experienced a hit and informed the Air Traffic Control. It was later found that some animal, suspected to be a deer, had been hit. The flight, however, reached Delhi and also went ahead with its onward journey to Bangalore,” said Indigo’s airports operations chief Varun Bhargava.
Just eight months ago, the airport, being developed into an international air passenger and cargo hub, had witnessed a similar incident. Then too, luckily, there was no damage.
Such incidents should not come as a surprise as Nagpur’s Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, spread over 700 acres, serves as a breeding ground for cheetals, blue bulls and wild boars since it has thick water-rich vegetation inside the airport. Confusion over responsibility of keeping the airstrip clear of animals continues to pose a serious threat to air passengers’ lives.
Bhargava said, “Having an animal on the strip when the plane is in full throttle for take-off is very dangerous, more dangerous than a bird-hit since the obstruction involved is bigger in size, especially if it hits the engine.”
“We haven’t done any census here, but it appears to be a very good habitat for animals,” says Chief Conservator of Forest (territorial) SHV Naqvi. “Even if we bundle them out, they will always come back.”
“I think this must be the only airport in the country having this kind of vegetation,” said Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) P Majumdar. “In July, we had written to the Director General of Civil Aviation, Chairman of the Airport Authority of India and the Civil Aviation Minister that certain steps need to be taken for resolving the issue. Unfortunately, there is no follow-up. They say they have no funds.”
Airport Controller S N Borkar said, “Wildlife laws are so strict that we can’t do anything about the animals. But now we have begun removing the vegetation, and it should take a month’s time to complete it.” Meanwhile, the Forest Department has registered offenses under the Wildlife Protection Act.
