An unfortunate incident occurred at the Lahore airport when a private airline’s Airbus A-320 aircraft was hit by a bird during landing. The pilot immediately alerted the control tower about the emergency situation.
Prior to landing, the plane’s engine caught fire, as reported by the pilot. The civil aviation department promptly dispatched a technical team to inspect the aircraft for damages.
In July, it was revealed that a total of 61 planes, belonging to both foreign and national airlines, were affected by bird strikes from January 2023 to June 2023.
According to statistics shared by a spokesperson from Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the national flag carrier has suffered millions of rupees in losses due to bird strikes. In the past six months, 39 bird hits have been reported at various domestic airports across the country.
Among these incidents, the highest number of bird strikes occurred at Karachi Airport, with a total of 19 recorded. Lahore airport experienced 17 strikes, Islamabad airport had 5, Quetta airport had 4, Multan airport had 2, Sukkur airport had 2, and Sialkot airport had 1 strike.
These bird strike incidents cause significant financial losses for the airline as the affected aircraft must be temporarily grounded.
It is essential for airports and airlines to take necessary precautions and implement measures to minimize the occurrence of bird strikes, ensuring the safety of both passengers and aircraft.