Bird strike damages nose of Indigo plane carrying 186 at Dehradun airport

An IndiGo Airbus A320 (flight IGO‑5032) flying from Mumbai to Dehradun suffered a suspected bird strike during landing at Jolly Grant Airport on Sunday evening, damaging the aircraft’s nose.

The incident occurred around 6:45 pm, when the plane collided with a bird near the runway. All 186 passengers on board were safe, and no injuries were reported.

In the wake of the strike, airport authorities carried out a detailed inspection and safety audit of the runway to assess any damage and ensure future safety.

This is the second bird‑strike incident reported at Jolly Grant Airport in about a month.

An IndiGo spokesperson issued a public statement following the event, explaining: “Caused due to bird hit, a maintenance requirement was noticed on IndiGo flight 6E 5032, operating from Mumbai to Dehradun … the aircraft was subsequently grounded and an alternative flight was arranged to operate the sector.” The airline also assured that all “operational and safety protocols were followed.”

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“All 186 passengers on board remained unharmed,” the statement said.

Bird strikes are a persistent concern for many airports, especially those surrounded by natural habitat. Experts say that even a relatively small bird can cause significant damage to an aircraft’s nose, windshield, or engines during takeoff or landing.

With repeated incidents at Jolly Grant, aviation authorities may now face increasing pressure to step up bird‑hazard mitigation measures—from habitat management around the airfield to active wildlife deterrence—to prevent such incidents in the future.