New Delhi: Airports in India, including Delhi and Mumbai, are adopting various measures to tackle the rising issue of bird strikes. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), bird strike incidents have increased from 4.26 per 10,000 flights two years ago to 9.68 by September 2024.
In August last year, an Air India flight at Goa’s Dabolim Airport had to cancel takeoff due to a bird strike, which caused smoke to emerge from the aircraft’s engine.
A senior DGCA official stated that airports have been directed to reassess bird strike risks and find effective mitigation strategies. This comes after a serious accident involving a Jeju Air flight at South Korea’s Muan Airport. Increasing urbanization around airports and the disposal of food waste near populated areas have been identified as key factors attracting birds to airport zones.
Airports have strict guidelines against dumping food waste or animal carcasses near their premises. Birds searching for food often fly into these areas, raising safety risks. Experts emphasize that all commercial aircraft must pass bird strike resistance tests before being cleared for operations, as such incidents can cause critical situations.
Delhi Airport, India’s busiest, reported 169 bird strikes in 2023, though no major accidents were recorded. In contrast, Bengaluru Airport reported zero bird strikes during the same period. To address the issue scientifically, Delhi Airport has formed a 14-member committee. Measures like loud sound devices, scare guns, and other deterrents are already in use to prevent bird activity near runways.
