Stray dog on Kolkata airport runway diverts Chennai IndiGo flight to Andal
Synopsis
A stray dog wandering onto the runway at Kolkata's NSCBI Airport triggered an emergency ATC diversion, sending an IndiGo flight from Chennai 187 kilometres off course to Andal Airport — the second security scare at the same airport within 24 hours, following a fake hijack threat the previous morning.
Key Takeaways
A stray dog breached the runway at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport , Kolkata, on Thursday, 12 November .
An IndiGo flight from Chennai was diverted to Andal Airport in West Burdwan , approximately 187 kilometres from Kolkata; all passengers were safe.
The alert was first raised by the pilot of an IndiGo Kolkata–Ranchi flight waiting on the runway before take-off.
The Kolkata Airport Authority has launched an investigation into the perimeter security failure.
A day earlier, a passenger was arrested for a fake hijack threat at the same airport, marking two security incidents at NSCBI within 24 hours .
A stray dog that breached the runway of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport in Kolkata on Thursday, 12 November forced an IndiGo flight arriving from Chennai to divert to Andal Airport in West Burdwan district, approximately 187 kilometres from Kolkata. Quick action by the pilot and Air Traffic Control (ATC) prevented what airport officials described as a potential major disaster.
How the Incident Unfolded
The sequence began when an IndiGo flight preparing to depart from Kolkata to Ranchi reached the runway on Wednesday. Just before take-off, the pilot spotted a stray dog roaming freely on the runway and immediately radioed the Kolkata ATC with a warning.
At that precise moment, a separate IndiGo flight inbound from Chennai was on final approach to land at Kolkata. Upon receiving the alert, ATC officials acted swiftly, prohibiting the Chennai aircraft from landing and issuing instructions to divert. The flight subsequently landed safely at Andal Airport in West Burdwan. All passengers on board were reported safe.
Security Gaps Under Scrutiny
The incident has triggered serious questions about perimeter security at NSCBI Airport, one of India's busiest aviation hubs. The Kolkata Airport Authority has launched an investigation into how the animal managed to breach what is classified as a high-security zone without detection.
Notably, this is not the first security concern at the airport this week. On Wednesday morning, a passenger was arrested after allegedly issuing a hijack threat aboard an Air India flight at NSCBI Airport. The individual, a resident of Sodepur in North 24 Parganas district, reportedly fabricated the threat to avoid being sent abroad for work, citing his wife's cancer illness. Police detained him following the alert.
The Andal Diversion: What It Means for Passengers
Andal Airport, officially known as Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport, serves as the nearest operational alternative to Kolkata in eastern India. A diversion of 187 kilometres would have meant considerable delays and logistical challenges for passengers aboard the Chennai flight, though no injuries were reported.
Aviation safety experts have long flagged wildlife intrusion — particularly stray animals — as a persistent hazard at Indian airports. According to data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), bird and animal strikes remain among the leading causes of runway safety incidents in India, with inadequate perimeter fencing cited as a recurring concern.
What Happens Next
The Kolkata Airport Authority is expected to submit a detailed incident report to the DGCA. Authorities are likely to face pressure to audit and reinforce the airport's perimeter fencing and wildlife management protocols. The twin security incidents within 24 hours at NSCBI Airport are likely to draw scrutiny from aviation regulators and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).
Point of View
Documented hazard in Indian aviation, yet inadequate fencing remains a systemic problem the DGCA has repeatedly flagged without decisive corrective action. The real question is not whether the ATC responded well on the day — it did — but why a stray dog could breach a high-security zone undetected in the first place. If this incident does not prompt an emergency audit of perimeter protocols across Indian airports, it will join a long list of near-misses that produced paperwork but no structural change.
NationPress
12 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at Kolkata airport on 12 November 2026?
A stray dog entered the runway at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport in Kolkata, prompting Air Traffic Control to divert an incoming IndiGo flight from Chennai to Andal Airport in West Burdwan, about 187 kilometres away. All passengers were reported safe.
Which flight was diverted and where did it land?
An IndiGo flight operating the Chennai–Kolkata route was diverted on the instructions of the Kolkata ATC. It landed safely at Andal Airport, also known as Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport, in West Burdwan district.
How was the stray dog on the runway discovered?
The alert was raised by the pilot of a separate IndiGo flight preparing to take off from Kolkata to Ranchi. The pilot spotted the dog on the runway just before take-off and immediately informed Kolkata Air Traffic Control, which then acted to prevent the Chennai flight from landing.
What action is being taken following the runway security breach?
The Kolkata Airport Authority has launched an investigation to determine how the dog breached the high-security runway zone undetected. An incident report is expected to be filed with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and regulators may review perimeter fencing protocols.
Were there other security incidents at NSCBI Airport around the same time?
Yes. On Wednesday morning, a passenger was arrested at NSCBI Airport after allegedly making a false hijack threat aboard an Air India flight. The individual, from Sodepur in North 24 Parganas, reportedly fabricated the threat to avoid being sent abroad for work, citing his wife's serious illness. The two incidents occurred within 24 hours of each other.
