NEW DELHI: Following two bird hits on Sunday — one each on SpiceJet and IndiGo that those sent those flights back to the origin airports soon after take off — the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Monday asked airport operators to immediately take steps to minimise this risk. The incidence of bird hits rises during any season as waterlogged ground sends worms and insects to the surface, attracting birds even more than the what the garbage dumped and abattoirs on the approach path of aircraft and near airports do.
“We are all aware that during monsoon season wild life (birds and animals) activity increases in and around airports. Presence of wildlife in airport vicinity poses a serious threat to aircraft operational safety. All airports are requested to review their wild life hazard management plan for any gap and ensure strict implementation of strategies for wild life hazard management within and also outside the airfield,” DGCA joint DG Maneesh Kumar has said in a letter to all airport operators and airport directors.
