Birds are a known problem for planes, but occasionally other creatures can present issues as well. On Thursday, a SpiceJet flight headed to Delhi was grounded after the aircraft collided with a buffalo during takeoff.
Birds are a known problem for planes, but occasionally, land-based creatures can present issues as well. On Thursday, a SpiceJet flight headed to Delhi was grounded after the aircraft collided with a buffalo during takeoff.
It was said that the animal was nearly invisible against the dark background of the runway.
A spokesperson for SpiceJet confirmed the plane collided with an unexpected creature and said “A Surat-to-Delhi SpiceJet aircraft, Flight number SG 622, carrying around 140 passengers excluding crew members today hit a stray animal on take-off roll at Surat airport.”
Travelers were transferred to a different plane that had come from Mumbai, as the one involved in the accident encountered unspecified damages.
None of the passengers were injured. The buffalo, however wasn’t as fortunate. It was reportedly killed in the crash.
The airline’s Chief Operating Officer has blamed the occurrence on insufficient airport security. Routine operations were hampered as a result and SpiceJet flights from Surat have since been suspended indefinitely.
