Major mishap averted, bird hit aircraft stays on ground

Visakhapatnam: Around 180 passengers heaved a sigh of relief, as the alert pilot of the Bengaluru-bound IndiGo flight noticed that a bird got stuck in the propeller of the aircraft.

The flight was supposed to take off at 7.55 am on Wednesday. The pilot found the bird after starting the flight and covering about 50 per cent of the runway before take off. However, passengers on the flight had a harrowing experience after the grounding of the flight.

The flight was packed to capacity and few passengers in the flight had booked tickets for connecting flight to various international destinations from Bengaluru. But the management of the Indigo had failed to make immediate alternative arrangements for the passengers. Later, an alternative flight was arranged for the passengers at 3.30 pm.

Some passenger alleged that the local managers of the Indigo Airlines denied accommodation on Chennai-bound Indigo flight to enable them to fly to Bengaluru from Chennai. A few had confronted with the IndiGo representatives after their request was turned down. Sources in the airport said 40 per cent of the stranded passengers cancelled their tickets and went out of the airport looking for alternative arrangements.

Those having connecting flight to foreign destinations made their own arrangements. A travel agent said those who had connecting flights agreed to pay for the flight from Chennai to Bengaluru but the airline representative turned down their request and fled from the spot, when other passengers tried to attack him. Airport director G Prakash Reddy said he had no information about the cancellation of flight as it was not connected to Airport Authority.