Vistara Delhi-Bhubaneswar flight hit by bird, all passengers and crew safe

A Bhubaneswar-bound aircraft of Vistara with 50 passengers and seven crew on board suffered a bird hit today when it was in the process of landing at the Biju Patnaik International Airport. The Airbus A320 aircraft, however, made a normal landing and all passengers are safe.

“Vistara flight UK 709 Delhi to Bhubaneswar this morning experienced a bird hit on approach and continued to a safe landing at Biju Patnaik International Airport. All 50 passengers and seven crew on board our Airbus 320 aircraft are safe,” Vistara said in a statement.

The bird-hit aircraft is grounded at the Bhubaneswar airport where engineers are assessing the damage to the plane, they said, adding, the incident took place some 70 kms off the Bhubaneswar airport.

The airline, a Tata-SIA joint venture, said the bird-hit aircraft is expected to be released for operations later today, adding, “There are, however, no cancellations as of now though the return Bhubaneswar-Delhi leg is delayed until the engineering work is complete.”