Politics · India Bureau
Bird strike forces 14-hour delay for Emirates flight arriving in Delhi
An Emirates aircraft operating between Dubai and Delhi suffered a bird strike upon arrival on Saturday, prompting the airline to suspend return operations for extensive repairs. Passengers faced an overnight delay, with the return service rescheduled for Sunday morning.
LSN India ·
Emirates flight EK517 from Dubai encountered a bird strike while landing in Delhi on October 17, necessitating unscheduled maintenance work on the aircraft. The collision forced the suspension of the return leg, originally scheduled to depart at 4:25 pm the same day.
The return service, also designated EK517, has been postponed to 7 am on October 18, representing a delay of over 14 hours from the initially planned departure time. Emirates stated that the aircraft would undergo necessary repairs before resuming operations.
The Gulf carrier has arranged hotel accommodation for all affected passengers during the extended layover in the Indian capital. The airline apologised for the disruption caused by the incident.
Bird strikes remain a significant aviation safety concern at major airports across South Asia, though most incidents are managed without serious consequences. Emirates did not immediately disclose the number of passengers impacted by Saturday's delay.