Delhi-bound Air India flight forced to return to Chennai airport after it suffers bird hit

The stranded passengers were accommodated in the airline’s subsequent flights as well as in those operated by private carriers .

A Delhi-bound Air India flight carrying 131 passengers was forced to return to the city airport on Wednesday after suffering a bird-hit 20 minutes into its journey, the national carrier said.

The Air India flight AI 440 was airborne for nearly 20 minutes before it suffered the bird hit. (Mint File)

All passengers are safe.

The flight AI 440 was airborne for nearly 20 minutes before it suffered the bird hit, “forcing” it to return to the city airport, an Air India spokesperson said.

“All passengers are safe and the aircraft is being inspected by Air India engineers to assess the damage caused due to the bird strike,” he said.

The stranded passengers were later accommodated in the airline’s subsequent flights as well as in those operated by private carriers, he added.