Patna Airport News: IndiGo Flight Diverted to Varanasi After Bird Flock Spotted Near Patna Airport Runway
Patna Airport News
An IndiGo flight operating from Delhi to Patna was diverted to Varanasi on Monday evening after a large flock of birds was spotted near the runway at Patna’s Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport. The precautionary diversion affected hundreds of passengers and temporarily disrupted flight operations at the airport.
The flight, IndiGo 6E 2453, was carrying 176 passengers, including a Union minister, when it approached Patna at around 4:15 pm. Instead of landing at its scheduled destination, the aircraft was diverted to Varanasi because of the bird activity near the runway. The decision was taken as a safety precaution to avoid the risk of a bird strike during landing.
After landing at Varanasi, the aircraft later returned to Patna and arrived at approximately 6:20 pm. The diversion meant that passengers scheduled to travel from Patna to Delhi on the same aircraft had to wait at the airport for around three hours. The disruption caused considerable inconvenience to passengers who were already at the airport waiting for their flight.
Airport personnel took measures to clear the area around the runway and disperse the birds. According to local reports, firecrackers were used to scare the birds away before flight operations could return to normal.
The incident has again drawn attention to the bird-hazard issue at Patna Airport. Bird activity around an airport can pose a serious operational risk, particularly during takeoff and landing, when aircraft are flying at relatively low altitude. A bird strike involving an engine or other critical aircraft component can cause significant damage and, in some cases, lead to an emergency situation.
The latest incident comes shortly after another bird-related event at the airport. On August 24, an Air India aircraft reportedly suffered a bird strike involving its right-side turbine while it was only around 20 feet above the ground. The aircraft was subsequently landed safely. A day earlier, airport personnel also found the remains of a dead bat weighing around 1.5 kg during a routine runway inspection.
Patna Airport has an Airport Environment Management Committee that meets periodically to discuss measures aimed at reducing bird activity around the airfield. These measures include improving waste disposal, preventing open dumping and controlling activities such as open sale of meat and fish that can attract birds.
The repeated bird-related incidents have raised questions about the effectiveness of these measures. Recent reporting has also indicated a sharp increase in bird-hit incidents at Patna Airport during 2026, adding pressure on airport authorities to strengthen bird-hazard management and maintain safe flight operations.
Ajeet Yadav is an aviation enthusiast covering airline news, airports, aircraft, and industry developments through well-researched and reliable reporting.
