Air India had cancelled its Friday, June 20, 2025, flight from Pune to Delhi after the aircraft hit a bird while coming in from the national capital. The incident was found after the plane landed safely in Pune and was being prepared for the return trip.
In a formal statement, the airline stated, “Flight AI2470 departing from Pune to Delhi on 20 June 2025 has been cancelled after a bird-hit was found on arrival after the flight landed safely at Pune. The aircraft has been grounded to undergo detailed checks.”
Passengers Given Refunds and Rescheduling
The incident was termed as “unforeseen” by Air India, which apologized for the trouble caused and reasserted its commitment to safety. “The safety of our passengers and crew is always of paramount importance,” the airline said.
Displaced passengers have been given full refunds or free rescheduling, depending on their travel schedule. The airline has also said that “alternate arrangements are being made to take the passengers to Delhi.”
No Injuries Reported, Aircraft Undergoing Safety Checks
Bird strikes are common in aviation but usually require extensive checks to certify the plane safe for future flights. Luckily, no one was hurt, and all passengers had safe landings at Pune.
The plane is grounded while engineers make detailed checks to determine whether there is any damage due to the bird strike.
Safety Scrutiny Deepens After Recent Dreamliner Crash
This latest incident follows Air India remaining under close scrutiny after the recent Ahmedabad–London Gatwick Dreamliner crash that claimed 271 lives, more than 30 of whom were on the ground.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had initiated thorough checks of Air India’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet after the tragedy. Based on DGCA figures, 66 Dreamliner flights have been cancelled post-crash. On June 12 alone, six out of the 50 flights operated by Dreamliners were grounded.
By June 18, 24 out of 33 Dreamliners in Air India’s fleet had been inspected. Two planes continue to be on the AOG (Aircraft on Ground) list in Delhi because of maintenance reasons, and further jets are lined up for inspection.
