Mumbai, Mar 13: A US-bound Air-India flight with over 400 passengers on board had to land at the Mumbai Airport soon after take-off after a bird hit one of the engines. All the passengers and the flight crew are safe. The aircraft, a Boeing 747-400 was bound for New York via London, Air-India Director (PR HRD) Jitender Bhargava said. The passengers were transferred to another aircraft which departed at 1300 hrs, he said.
The Boeing 747-400 took off at around 0800 hrs from the Chhatrapati Shivaji international airport in north-west Mumbai. After the bird hit one of the engines, as part of safety precautions, the commander of the flight was asked to return to the airport after dumping the fuel.
Aviation experts have already expressed concern about the safety aspect as the Mumbai airport which is the busiest in the country, is surrounded by slums.
The waste thrown by the dwellings attract birds and there is always a risk of bird-hits.
In the past too, there has been instances, wherein, dogs were seen crossing the runways posing a danger.
However, the rehabilitation of the slums around the Mumbai airport, from their present location to other places, is pending with the state government, airport sources said. Bureau Report