Pune: An Air India aircraft with over 100 passengers on board encountered a bird strike while landing at Pune Airport on Friday morning, prompting the airline to cancel its return flight to Delhi for safety reasons.
Flight AI-2469, operating on the Delhi–Pune route, departed from Delhi at 5:31 am and arrived safely in Pune at 7:14 am. After landing, routine post-flight inspections uncovered signs of a bird collision that likely occurred during descent or touchdown.
As a result, the Airbus A320, which was scheduled to operate the return leg as flight AI-2470 to Delhi, was immediately grounded to undergo thorough technical and safety evaluations. This led to the cancellation of the return flight, in line with aviation safety protocols.
An Air India spokesperson confirmed the development, stating, “Flight AI-2470, which was to depart from Pune to Delhi on June 20, was cancelled after the inbound aircraft sustained a bird hit. The aircraft is undergoing standard safety inspections. We regret the inconvenience and are assisting affected passengers with refunds, rescheduling, and alternate travel arrangements.”
The airline also assured that accommodation was provided for passengers requiring it, and all efforts were being made to minimize disruption.
Emphasizing its commitment to safety, Air India thanked customers for their cooperation and reiterated that passenger well-being remains the airline’s highest priority.
