Nagpur: A potential mid-air scare was averted at Nagpur’s Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport on Wednesday morning after a chartered helicopter carrying senior officials of Lloyds Metals and Energy Limited (LMEL) reportedly suffered a bird hit moments after take-off.
The Bell helicopter had taken off from Nagpur and was bound for Ghugus in Chandrapur district, where LMEL operates a major steel plant. However, shortly after becoming airborne, the pilot suspected a bird strike and immediately decided to abort the flight as a precautionary measure. The helicopter landed safely back at the airport.
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Subsequent inspection led to the recovery of a dead pigeon from the runway area. Sources said the bird is suspected to have struck the lower portion of the helicopter’s rotor assembly. Curiously, the pigeon’s body was found largely intact, raising questions about the nature and angle of impact.
The scheduled flight was later cancelled, and the helicopter remains stationed at Nagpur Airport pending further checks. Preliminary assessment indicated no visible structural damage, though detailed technical inspection is expected as per aviation safety norms.
The incident has once again brought focus on the persistent bird activity around the airport premises. MIHAN India Limited (MIL), which operates the airport, has reportedly deployed a bird watcher to monitor and control avian movement in and around the runway zone.
Sources also pointed out that instances of kabutarbazi (pigeon racing) are frequently observed in areas surrounding the airport, a practice that aviation experts say can significantly increase the risk of bird strikes.
Nagpur Airport has witnessed similar incidents in the recent past. In October last year, an Air India aircraft was grounded after a bird hit. Earlier, an IndiGo Airlines flight was forced to return mid-air after a major bird strike damaged the aircraft’s frontal section.
While Wednesday’s incident ended without injury or major damage, it has once again underscored the urgent need for stricter bird control measures to ensure flight safety at the city’s airport.
