Bird hit damages engine of Air India Colombo-Chennai Flight, Return flight cancelled

October 7, 2025

New Delhi: A bird hit damaged the engine of an Air India Colombo-Chennai flight on Tuesday. The airline has temporarily cancelled the return flight from Chennai to Colombo due to safety concerns.

Airport officials said the plane was about to land at Chennai International Airport when a bird struck its engine, causing a noise. The pilot then landed the flight at Chennai Airport.

There were 158 passengers on board the flight at the time of the incident. All passengers are safe. Officials said the flight has been grounded for safety reasons, meaning it is not permitted to fly further.

He said the airline arranged another flight for the 137 passengers, who later departed for Colombo. An Air India technical team is investigating the extent of the damage to the aircraft after the collision. Teams from the airport authority and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) are also preparing a report on the incident.

What is a ‘bird hit’?

In aviation, a “bird strike” refers to a bird striking an aircraft during takeoff or landing. This often occurs near airports due to open debris or trees, which are a frequent bird habitat. Such accidents can cause engine damage.