Air India flight hits bird on landing at Raipur Airport, touches down safely
Synopsis
An Air India flight from Delhi was hit by a bird while landing at Raipur Airport on 17 June, landing safely with no injuries. The incident adds to a difficult stretch for the carrier — just ten days after three of its A320s were damaged by storm-driven ground equipment at Delhi's Terminal 2, a case still under DGCA investigation.
Key Takeaways
An Air India flight from New Delhi suffered a bird strike on landing at Raipur Airport on 17 June 2026 .
The aircraft landed safely with no injuries to passengers or crew.
Air India followed prescribed SOPs ; the aircraft was cleared and departed for its next destination.
Separately, the DGCA is investigating damage to three Air India A320s at Delhi Airport Terminal 2 on 7 June 2026 caused by storm-driven ground equipment.
All three aircraft from the 7 June incident were grounded for inspection and maintenance.
An Air India flight operating from New Delhi suffered a bird strike during its approach and landing at Raipur Airport on Wednesday, 17 June 2026, according to the Raipur Airport Authority. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew, and the aircraft landed safely.
What Happened on the Ground
Airport officials confirmed that the bird hit occurred during the landing phase. Following the incident, Air India activated its prescribed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), which include a detailed airworthiness inspection before any aircraft is cleared to resume service. All required checks were completed, and the aircraft was subsequently cleared for further operations, departing for its next scheduled destination.
Aviation Context: Why Bird Strikes Matter
Bird strikes are among the most frequently reported aviation hazards globally and are taken seriously by regulators and carriers alike. Airlines operating in India are mandated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to conduct thorough post-strike inspections to confirm structural and engine integrity before an aircraft returns to service. Authorities have not reported any major damage resulting from this particular incident.
Separate Air India Safety Incident at Delhi Airport
This bird strike comes amid a broader period of scrutiny for Air India's ground operations. Earlier this month, the DGCA confirmed it is investigating an incident in which three Air India A320 aircraft parked at Delhi Airport's Terminal 2 were damaged on 7 June 2026 at approximately 4:30 pm IST during adverse weather conditions.
According to a DGCA statement, strong winds caused two pieces of ground equipment positioned at adjacent stands to shift from their locations and collide with two separate aircraft at multiple points. A third aircraft sustained damage to its right-hand sliding window from foreign object debris. All three narrow-body aircraft were grounded for inspection and maintenance.
Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) corroborated the account, noting that heavy rainfall accompanied the strong winds and that ground handling equipment near the parked aircraft was displaced by the weather, triggering the collisions.
What Comes Next
The DGCA investigation into the 7 June Delhi Airport incident remains ongoing. With two separate safety-related events involving Air India aircraft within ten days, aviation safety watchers are likely to monitor the carrier's ground and operational protocols more closely in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
The pressure on maintenance and ground operations infrastructure is only rising. Regulators would do well to ensure that the pace of growth does not outrun safety systems.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the Air India flight at Raipur Airport?
An Air India flight arriving from New Delhi was struck by a bird during its landing approach at Raipur Airport on 17 June 2026. The aircraft landed safely, no injuries were reported, and it was cleared for further operations after mandatory inspections.
Was anyone injured in the Raipur bird strike?
No. The Raipur Airport Authority confirmed there were no injuries to passengers or crew members. The aircraft underwent standard post-bird-strike inspections before resuming service.
What are the DGCA rules after a bird strike?
The DGCA requires airlines to follow prescribed Standard Operating Procedures after any bird strike, including a detailed airworthiness inspection to confirm structural and engine integrity before the aircraft is cleared to fly again.
What is the separate Air India incident at Delhi Airport?
On 7 June 2026, three Air India A320 aircraft parked at Delhi Airport's Terminal 2 were damaged when strong winds moved ground equipment into two planes and foreign object debris cracked a window on a third. The DGCA has grounded those aircraft for inspection and is investigating the incident.
How common are bird strikes in Indian aviation?
Bird strikes are a frequently reported aviation hazard in India and globally. Airlines are required to report every incident to the DGCA and conduct mandatory inspections before the affected aircraft returns to service.
