LAHORE: A Karachi-bound Pakistan International Airlines flight was forced to turn back shortly after takeoff from Allama Iqbal International Airport on Monday. The reason was a bird strike.
Flight PK-305 had just taken off when it hit a bird. The pilot immediately decided to return the plane to Lahore. The aircraft landed safely, and all passengers and crew remained unhurt.
The airline spokesperson said that the aircraft is now being thoroughly inspected. Passengers are being accommodated on other flights as soon as possible.
Officials say the bird strike problem around Lahore airport has worsened. This is due to food outlets and residential colonies near the runway approach paths. Many people in the area keep pigeons and other birds. These birds often fly into the flight path.
A joint monitoring committee has already been formed to address this issue. The Director General of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority has also visited multiple airports. The purpose of these visits is to check the measures being taken.
The airline has finalized tenders to install modern bird detection and deterrent systems. These tools are expected to significantly reduce the number of birds near airport perimeters in the future.
