An IndiGo flight en route to Ranchi was compelled to make an emergency landing at Birsa Munda Airport on Monday, June 2, 2025, after encountering a bird strike. The incident occurred while the aircraft was at an altitude of approximately 4,000 feet.

According to officials, the flight was carrying 175 passengers. Fortunately, all passengers were reported safe and unharmed following the emergency landing.

The Birsa Munda Airport Director, R R Maurya, stated that the incident took place about 10 to 12 nautical miles from the airport. He added that the aircraft sustained a dent due to the impact with what was identified as a vulture. Engineers are currently assessing the extent of the damage to the aircraft. The incident occurred around 1:14 PM.

Another official confirmed that the aircraft, after arriving in Ranchi from Patna, was scheduled to continue its journey to Kolkata. The bird hit forced the pilot to request an immediate landing to ensure the safety of everyone on board.

Bird strikes are a well-known risk in aviation, particularly during takeoff and landing. Airlines are required to conduct thorough inspections of the aircraft following such incidents before permitting them to return to service.

This event follows another recent incident involving an IndiGo flight, where a flight from Raipur to Delhi experienced severe turbulence due to a dust storm. In that instance, the pilot had to abort the landing at the last moment and circle until conditions improved, eventually landing safely. Additionally, two weeks prior, an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Srinagar encountered severe turbulence caused by a hailstorm, highlighting the various weather-related challenges airlines frequently face.