In an unusual incident at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, an IndiGo flight had to be diverted just moments before landing after a fox was spotted on the runway. The aircraft, which was flying from Chennai to Kolkata, was redirected to Andal Airport in Durgapur after the pilot alerted Air Traffic Control (ATC) about the animal on the runway.
Fox Alert On Kolkata Airport Runway!
According to NDTV, the pilot spotted the fox while approaching Kolkata Airport and immediately informed the ATC. Following the alert, air traffic controllers instructed the aircraft to perform a go-around manoeuvre, asking it to abort its landing attempt. The flight was subsequently diverted to Andal Airport, where it landed safely.
The incident comes as a rather unusual airport safety concern, with the presence of animals on active runways posing a potential risk to aircraft during take-off and landing.
Also Read: Man Tries To Open Emergency Door On IndiGo Delhi-Pune Flight; Booked By Police
Airport Also Receives A Hijack Threat On The Same Day
Interestingly, the runway incident came just hours after a separate security scare at Kolkata Airport involving an Air India flight bound for Mumbai. A threatening message claiming a hijack was reportedly found written on the mirror inside one of the aircraft’s lavatories on Wednesday morning.
As per the NDTV report, the flight crew immediately alerted ATC, following which the aircraft was moved to an isolation bay. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), along with specialised security personnel, conducted an extensive search of the aircraft, checking its compartments and luggage hold areas as part of standard security protocols.
The hijack threat was later established to be a hoax, and an investigation was initiated to identify the person responsible for writing the message. The Air India flight, which was originally scheduled to depart at 10:30 AM, was rescheduled for 5 PM.
Also Read: Three Siblings Spot Rahul Dravid On IndiGo Flight, Get His Autograph & Call Him Sweet
While the two incidents were unrelated, they made for an eventful day at Kolkata Airport, with both wildlife and security concerns disrupting flight operations.
Cover Image Courtesy: IndiGo & Pexels/Erik Mclean (representative image)
FAQs
Why was an IndiGo flight diverted at Kolkata Airport?
The flight was diverted after its pilot spotted a fox on the runway while approaching Kolkata Airport and alerted Air Traffic Control.
Where was the IndiGo flight diverted?
The flight was redirected to Andal Airport in Durgapur, where it landed safely.
Where was the IndiGo flight travelling from?
The IndiGo flight was travelling from Chennai to Kolkata.
