A British Airways flight arriving in Chennai from London suffered a bird strike during its final approach early Monday, with damage reported to the aircraft’s nose section. All 236 people on board—224 passengers and 12 crew—were safe, according to the report.
The incident occurred when the aircraft was descending at around 500 feet and slowing for landing at Chennai airport. The pilot landed safely, after which engineers and security personnel inspected the aircraft on the runway and confirmed the damage.
With maintenance work pending, the return service from Chennai to London scheduled for 5.35 am was cancelled, affecting 268 passengers. Those passengers were accommodated in various hotels in the city.
Authorities have linked the rising bird hazard to open dumping of waste in and around nearby panchayat areas such as Kolapakkam, Gerugambakkam and Tharappakkam, including along the Adyar riverbank. The waste reportedly includes plastic, meat scraps and animal carcasses, which draw birds that circle the airspace near the runway.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has ordered a detailed inquiry. Aviation experts warned that continued dumping within the airport’s surrounding zone—despite restrictions on open garbage yards within a 10-km radius—could raise the risk of a major accident if not addressed urgently.
