A Kingfisher airlines (IT 2802) landed on a pig at Nagpur's Dr. Ambedkar Airport airport on Friday.
The Indore-Nagpur-Hyderabad flight had just touched down on the runway when it hit a stray pig on the runway.
"The aircraft landed at 8.43 pm and the aircraft was still on the main when all of a sudden three wild pigs darted on to the main runway from the left side," said a Kingfisher spokesman.
"At least one of the pigs hit the aircraft and the pilot immediately slowed down and after satisfying himself that it was safe to continue taxiing. And he brought the plane to the parking bay."
It was a close call for the 56 passengers and four crewmembers on board who felt a huge bump when the incident happened.
"This is yet another instance of stray animals involved in runway incursions at Nagpur airport," the spokesman said.
The aircraft, a small propeller ATR 72-500 type plane, suffered damages.
“Two wheels of the aircraft were deflated and there was some damage to the movable gear door on the right side," an airline official, who is not authorised to talk to the media, said.
{{/usCountry}}“Two wheels of the aircraft were deflated and there was some damage to the movable gear door on the right side," an airline official, who is not authorised to talk to the media, said.
{{/usCountry}}The airline spokesman, however, said the aircraft was examined thoroughly by engineers and flight safety team before being pressed back into service.
The Nagpur airport was upgraded to an international airport last year but wild animals in the vicinity like wild boars, nilgais and deers keep disturbing flying operations.