T'puram: A Bengaluru-bound

IndiGo flight

was forced to abort takeoff following a

bird strike

at

Thiruvananthapuram International Airport

on Monday. The incident occurred around 7.30am when an eagle hit the left engine of flight 6E 6629 as it was accelerating for takeoff.
The pilots reacted swiftly, applying the brakes and bringing the aircraft to a safe stop, ensuring safety of all passengers and crew on board. Following the incident, the aircraft was taken to the maintenance yard for a thorough inspection. Later, passengers travelled in a different flight for Bengaluru in the evening.
A passenger on board praised the pilots for their quick decision-making, emphasizing that their presence of mind prevented a potential disaster.
Meat rendering plant proposal dropped

Meanwhile, efforts to mitigate risk of bird strikes at airport have hit a roadblock. City corporation's proposal to establish a meat rendering plant near the airport—intended to curb illegal slaughterhouses in the vicinity, which attract birds—was scrapped.
Corporation secretary Jahamgeer S confirmed that Airport Authority of India (AAI) rejected the proposal, citing concerns that the plant itself could increase bird activity near the runway. "We moved forward with the project in collaboration with the Adani Group, which operates the airport. However, AAI raised objections, stating that such a facility could worsen the bird menace rather than reduce it. As a result, all proceedings related to the rendering plant have been halted," he said.
Instead, the corporation will now focus on completing the construction of a modern slaughterhouse at Kunnukuzhy, with a trial run expected to begin in April.
The rendering plant, initially proposed as part of Adani Airport Holdings' corporate environmental responsibility initiative, aimed to reduce bird strikes by properly disposing of meat waste that attracts scavenger birds. The project, estimated to cost Rs 1.5 crore, already saw participation from four companies in the bidding process, with three shortlisted for implementation. Illegal slaughterhouses operating near the airport continue to pose a significant threat to flight safety, with frequent bird strikes disrupting operations.