Faisal Fareed
Daijiworld Media Network - Lucknow

Lucknow, Aug 20: A major accident was averted when an Air India flight 698  returned soon after take off from the Amausi Airport on Saturday. As per reports the plane had been hit by a bird and the pilot decided to take a precautionary landing.

While Air India officials confirmed that it was a case of bird hit, airport authorities stated that if it was a case of bird hit then it did not take place at the airport premises.

Air India flight 698 from Lucknow to Mumbai was carrying 60 passengers with nineteen bound for Mumbai and the rest for Varanasi. Reliable sources informed that the plane had been hit by a bird soon after take off at 12 noon and returned immediately afterwards. The plane was thoroughly checked by our technical engineers and will take of at 5 pm.

The passengers bound for Varanasi and Mumbai were sent by other airlines" said the source. He said that it was the responsibility of the Airport Authority of India to remove birds from the airport premises by bursting crackers. "It is the responsibility of the Airport Authority of India to see that there are no birds at the airport before the arrival and departure of a flight" said the source.

When contacted Director Amausi Airport Atul Dixit said that the bird hit did not take place at the airport premises. " As per Air India it was a case of bird hit but it was not at airport but at same height outside Airport " said Dixit.