Vistara's Bhubaneswar-bound plane hit by bird, all passengers safe

New Delhi, May 5: A Bhubaneswar-bound aircraft of Vistara with 50 passengers and seven crew on board was hit by a bird on Thursday shortly before landing at the Biju Patnaik International Airport.

The Airbus A320 aircraft, however, landed safely and no passengers are hurt.

“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 aircraft is grounded at the Bhubaneswar airport where engineers are assessing the damage to the plane, they said, adding that the incident took place some 70km from the Bhubaneswar airport.

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

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Al Hamdulillah!!!! all passengers are safe

Bird must be an Alqaida member....

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Flight cancellations strand passengers overnight at Mangaluru Airport

News Network

December 4,2025

Mangaluru: Chaos erupted at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) after IndiGo flight 6E 5150, bound for Mumbai, was repeatedly delayed and ultimately cancelled, leaving around 100 passengers stranded overnight. The incident highlights the ongoing country-wide operational disruptions affecting the airline, largely due to the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms for crew.

The flight was initially scheduled for 9:25 PM on Tuesday but was first postponed to 11:40 PM, then midnight, before being cancelled around 3:00 AM. Passengers expressed frustration over last-minute communication and the lack of clarity, with elderly and ailing travellers particularly affected. “Though the airline arranged food, there was no proper communication, leaving us confused,” said one family member.

An IndiGo executive at MIA cited the FDTL rules, designed to prevent pilot fatigue by limiting crew working hours, as the cause of the cancellation. While alternative arrangements, including hotel stays, were offered, about 100 passengers chose to remain at the airport, creating tension. A replacement flight was arranged but also faced delays due to the same constraints, finally departing for Mumbai around 1:45 PM on Wednesday. Passengers either flew, requested refunds, or postponed their travel.

The Mangaluru delay is part of a broader crisis for IndiGo. The airline has been forced to make “calibrated schedule adjustments”—a euphemism for widespread cancellations and delays—after stricter FDTL norms came into effect on November 1.

While an IndiGo spokesperson acknowledged unavoidable flight disruptions due to technology issues, operational requirements, and the updated crew rostering rules, the DGCA has intervened, summoning senior airline officials to explain the chaos and outline corrective measures.

The ripple effect has been felt across the country, with major hubs like Bengaluru and Mumbai reporting numerous cancellations. The Mangaluru incident underscores the systemic operational strain currently confronting India’s largest carrier, leaving passengers nationwide grappling with uncertainty and delays.

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