Kathmandu: Jet Airways flight hits bird, catches fire

Passengers and crew of Jet Airways Flight 268 flying from Mumbai to Kathmandu had a narrow escape following a bird hit on Monday as the aircraft was about to land, officials said.

Updated on: Dec 29, 2014, 16:12:39 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Passengers and crew of Jet Airways Flight 268 flying from Mumbai to Kathmandu had a narrow escape following a bird hit on Monday as the aircraft was about to land, officials said.

The rear part of the 168-seater Boeing 737 caught fire on landing but the pilots were able to make a successful emergency landing. The fire was doused immediately and all passengers and crew evacuated safely.

"A bird hit the aircraft as it was about to land. But the aircraft landed without any problem at 12:05 Nepal time (11:50am) and all passengers are safe," said a duty officer at Tribhuban International Airport.

According to unconfirmed reports, the bird struck the left wing of the aircraft and its rear part caught fire while landing.

One officer with the rescue and fire fighting division of the airport said one wheel had caught fire.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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