How A Single Bird Can Cause Big Trouble For A Giant Plane Mid-Air?

Last Updated:June 05, 2025, 14:21 IST

Bird strikes, especially involving large birds, can cause significant damage to aircraft engines. Birds flying in groups pose even bigger risks.

A Ranchi-bound IndiGo flight had to make an emergency landing at Birsa Munda Airport on Monday after it collided with a bird in mid-air. The incident took place around 1 PM on June 2 when the plane was flying at an altitude of around 3,000 to 4,000 feet and struck a vulture.

The flight had taken off from Patna and was scheduled to head to Kolkata after stopping in Ranchi. According to officials, all passengers and crew members are safe. However, the Airbus A320 aircraft suffered damage due to the bird strike.

Confirming the incident, Airport Director RR Maurya said, “A dent was caused after the aircraft hit a vulture. Engineers are assessing the damage.”

Though birds seem small compared to aircraft, the damage they can cause is serious, especially if they hit sensitive parts like the engine. Experts say that bird strikes usually occur when planes are flying low – just after take-off or right before landing- when engines are running at full speed.

A professor at Purdue University in Indiana, who teaches aviation technology, explained how dangerous such collisions can be. “A large bird like a crane is far more dangerous than a small one. Jet engines are very delicate and not built to withstand such impacts. If a bird gets sucked in, it can break the engine’s blades and cause major damage,” he said.

Birds flying in groups pose even bigger risks. The speed difference between the aircraft and the bird also increases the force of impact. Even a 5 kg bird can hit with a force equal to dropping 1,000 pounds from a height of 10 feet.

To prevent such incidents, airports avoid planting trees nearby as they attract birds. Still, bird strikes cause losses of around $1.2 billion (approx. ₹103 billion) worldwide every year. According to Robin Radar Systems, each strike can cost an airline nearly $40,000 in repairs. From 1988 to 2023, over 491 people have died due to bird strike-related air crashes.

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