Mangalore bound Air-India Express Flight Lands Safely after Hit by Bird

Gulf Daily News

Bahrain, Dec 15: One hundred and fifty Air-India Express passengers had a narrow escape after their aircraft was hit by a bird as it came in for landing at the Bahrain International Airport.

Sources said 90 passengers were bound for Bahrain and the rest for Doha. They said the Boeing 737-800 aircraft, with a capacity of 180 passengers, was coming from Mumbai and was to go to Mangalore, India via Doha.

Air-India manager for Bahrain and Jordan D Debesh confirmed the incident and said that the Doha-bound passengers were accommodated in local hotels.

"The pilot reported something amiss as soon as the plane landed so a thorough engine check was ordered," he told the GDN.

"Engineers discovered the remains of what appeared to be a bird in one of the engines."

He said the presence of mind of the captain who landed safely in spite of the bird hit, had to be appreciated.

One of the passengers said he and a few others heard a thud minutes before touching down in Bahrain.

"We thought it was the usual sound of the undercarriage. Since the captain did not announce an emergency, no one on board was aware of the bird hit."

He said it was only later when passengers were inside the terminal building that they heard someone saying there had been a bird hit.

The aircraft, meanwhile, was on the ground in Bahrain awaiting final clearance.