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Air India flight grounded in Pune after bird hit; return leg cancelled
An Air India flight from Delhi to Pune suffered a bird strike on Friday, resulting in the cancellation of its return leg to Delhi.
The aircraft landed safely, and the bird hit was discovered after it touched down in Pune, the airline said in a statement. The plane has been grounded for detailed inspection, and extensive checks are being carried out by the engineering team.
'Flight AI2470, scheduled to operate from Pune to Delhi on 20 June, has been cancelled due to a bird hit which was identified after the incoming flight landed safely in Pune,' the airline stated.
Air India added that it is arranging accommodation for stranded passengers and offering full refunds or complimentary rescheduling. Efforts are also underway to arrange alternate travel options to Delhi.
Air India cancels eight more flights amid operational checks
This incident comes on the heels of Air India announcing the cancellation of eight other flights —four international and four domestic—on Friday, citing 'enhanced maintenance and operational reasons'.
While the airline did not provide detailed explanations, it said it would reduce its wide-body international flight schedule by around 15 per cent from June 20 through mid-July. The move is aimed at creating reserve capacity while aircraft undergo intensive safety inspections.
Crash-led inspections impact Air India operations nationwide
The cancellations follow a fatal crash of Air India flight AI171 in Ahmedabad on June 12. Since then, the airline has stepped up safety inspections across its Boeing 787 and 777 fleets.
The crash killed 241 of the 242 people on board, along with at least 30 people on the ground. The sole survivor, 40-year-old Vishwaskumar Ramesh, was seated near an emergency exit.
Since the accident, multiple Air India flights have been delayed or cancelled, with the airline attributing disruptions to 'technical snags' as a result of ongoing checks.
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But his response was, 'This plane has Sexy Engines, and these aircraft don't just fail. What happened is rare. Let the experts investigate.' He wasn't just being hopeful; he was speaking from years of training, thousands of hours in the cockpit and deep familiarity with one of the most advanced aircraft known today,' she wrote. Pilot Teena Goswami shared a somber account of her first flight after the crash. 'With heavy heart and full of emotions … Here we fly again… A silent flight ever I saw,' she shared on her Instagram, and described what she saw: *Passengers were quiet and fearful. *Airhostesses were getting enough respect and attention on the instructions given before takeoff. *Except pre-booked, no meals were bought. *Quite all around, and passengers not talking to each other. 'I felt so much silence and fear around, including me as well. What a devastating day of the crash, RIP all who lost their lives,' she wrote. Despite repeated attempts, many pilots and crew members declined to speak, choosing silence over reliving the trauma. Veteran pilot Captain Anil Rao, who has clocked 12,000 flying hours over 32 years, said that while such tragedies shake the aviation community, pilots are trained for precisely these moments. 'In life-and-death scenarios, a pilot fights till the very end to protect lives onboard and on the ground. That mindset is drilled into us. When a tragedy strikes close to home, there's shock and grief, yes, but pilots and cabin crew don't have the luxury to stop. We have to get up and fly,' he said. He explained the psychological balancing act. 'In the cockpit, we forget home. At home, we forget the cockpit. We have to dangle between the two extremes. We accept that tragedy has happened and see to it that such things shall not happen again, and learn from our and others' mistakes. That's our lives,' shared Rao. Captain Sunil Pillai, 58, a retired Air India pilot with 44 years of experience, took us through the intricacies of flying in times of adversity and said pilots must learn to navigate mentally taxing situations. 'Every six months, you're likely to face some form of emergency. No one's completely calm, but once in the cockpit, you know lives depend on you and you have to try and work hard to tackle those counterproductive thoughts, no matter what,' said Pillai, who has faced three engine failures and a hijack attempt. Even in this grief, they are reminded of something else they carry — resilience. 'The strength of those who flew the very next day, who stepped onto the aircraft despite the fear in their hearts. Because that is what it means to be part of this profession. We trust our training. We believe in our teams. And above all, we know that flying remains one of the safest forms of travel in the world. 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Tackling nerves and managing mental health are crucial not only for their well-being but for the safety and efficiency of flight operations, said Dr Chandni Tugnait, psychotherapist and the founder and director of Gateway of Healing. 'Acknowledging mental health needs and providing proper support allows these professionals to handle stress and trauma, ensuring they can perform their duties without being impaired by unresolved psychological challenges,' said Dr Tugnait. Delnna Rrajesh, psychotherapist and life coach, agreed, 'Your body and mind might be breaking silently, but duty doesn't pause in crisis,' and said, 'Your role is sacred, yes, but so is your sanity. You don't serve better by ignoring your emotions. You serve best when you're emotionally regulated, rested, and supported. In aviation, duty means staying calm in the skies. But it also means doing the inner work on the ground.' She also listed seven tools to protect the mental health of pilots and cabin crew while honouring their duties: 1. Three-minute check-in before every flight: Ask yourself…'Do I feel calm, alert, and clear-headed? What do I need to fly safely for myself and others?' This is your internal safety check. Do not skip it. 2. Mini-reset rituals mid-shift: a. Do your box-breathing: Breathe in for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4. '3. 'Breathwork techniques (like 4-7-8 breathing) can provide a quick reset during high-stress moments, calming the mind within minutes,' Dr Tugnait said. b. Massage your pressure points (base of skull, wrists) c. Hydrate intentionally with a 10-second pause. Sip water from a glass slowly. These micro-breaks bring your nervous system out of panic and into presence. 3. Emotional debriefs are critical: After tough flights, or incidents, don't just file reports/brush it off. Talk about how you feel. Suppressed emotion becomes trauma. Process it before it becomes toxic. 4. Pre-take-off anchor cue: One small grounding ritual (touching your badge, closing your eyes for five seconds, or an affirmation like 'I am present, prepared, and protected') can flip your brain from anxious to anchored. 5. Protect off-duty time like airspace: Schedule one digital detox every three days, one full 'no crew talk' day every week and one practice that's only for you (not for duty, not for anyone else). It can be journaling, meditation, dancing – anything that keeps you peaceful and centered. 6. Seek support before feeling broken: Try solution-focused therapy or breath-based trauma work. Don't wait for breakdowns. Schedule maintenance, not rescue. See a therapist, if need be. Jayashree Narayanan writes on fitness, health, aviation safety, food, culture and everything lifestyle. She is an alumnus of AJKMCRC, Jamia Millia Islamia and Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi ... Read More
