A bird collided with an AirSial flight at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport while the aircraft was en route to Karachi.
According to aviation sources, the incident prompted the pilot to safely return the plane to the airport. Officials from AirSial reported that the aircraft sustained minor damage from the bird strike, and passengers were subsequently moved to the lounge for their safety and comfort.
Aircraft engineers are currently inspecting the plane to assess any potential issues, and the flight is expected to resume shortly. This incident follows another bird strike involving an Airblue flight from Jeddah to Karachi, which occurred as the plane was landing near Model Colony.
A bird struck the aircraft’s windscreen, yet the pilot managed to land safely at Karachi airport without any complications. Fortunately, no passengers or crew members were injured during either incident.
In a broader context, bird strikes are a growing concern within the aviation sector. Reports indicate that in the first half of this year, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) experienced 38 bird strike incidents across various airports, including Lahore, Islamabad, and Multan.
Among these incidents, 31 involved Airbus A320s and 3 Boeing 777s. Lahore Airport recorded the highest number, with 14 occurrences.
Critics attribute the increase in bird strikes to alleged negligence by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which has not installed adequate deterrent systems to manage bird populations near runways.
As bird strikes can occur during critical flight phases such as takeoff and landing they pose significant safety risks, ranging from minor damage to serious structural issues that could endanger passengers and crew.
In response, aviation authorities worldwide are implementing enhanced safety measures, including habitat management and bird deterrent systems, to mitigate these risks.
