A Doha-bound IndiGo flight suffered a bird-hit early Thursday morning just after take-off and had to return to the Chennai airport, officials said.
All 134 passengers onboard were unhurt.
The flight landed back within 30 minutes after taking off from Anna International Airport in Chennai at 1.47am.
The plane returned at 2.20am.
"IndiGo flight 6E-1707 from Chennai to Doha had a bird hit (on November 16), as the aircraft was climbing after take-off," the airline said in a statement. "Due to precautionary reasons, the pilot decided to return to Chennai for aircraft inspection."
The airline also said the action was in line with the "recommended procedure by the manufacturer". During the process, the crew informed all passengers and IndiGo arranged for an alternative aircraft to avoid inconvenience to passengers, the statement noted. “At no point, safety of the passengers was compromised," it added.
Information available on the Hamad International Airport website showed the flight eventually landed in Doha at 6.33am instead of the scheduled 2.45am.
The flight landed back within 30 minutes after taking off from Anna International Airport in Chennai at 1.47am.
The plane returned at 2.20am.
"IndiGo flight 6E-1707 from Chennai to Doha had a bird hit (on November 16), as the aircraft was climbing after take-off," the airline said in a statement. "Due to precautionary reasons, the pilot decided to return to Chennai for aircraft inspection."
The airline also said the action was in line with the "recommended procedure by the manufacturer". During the process, the crew informed all passengers and IndiGo arranged for an alternative aircraft to avoid inconvenience to passengers, the statement noted. “At no point, safety of the passengers was compromised," it added.
Information available on the Hamad International Airport website showed the flight eventually landed in Doha at 6.33am instead of the scheduled 2.45am.