Plane hits buffalo on runway, Spicejet suspends Surat (Gujarat) flights A Delhi-bound Spicejet plane with146 people on board hit a buffalo while proceeding for take- off in Surat last night but no one was injured in the incident, though the aircraft was damaged and the airline suspended operations to this Gujarat town indefinitely. The Boeing 737-800 aircrafts left engine was severely damaged and it had to be grounded after the incident an airline spokesperson said. A stray buffalo hit one of our aircraft, flight SG-622 from Surat to New Delhi, carrying 140 passengers and six crew, on take-off roll at Surat airport. The buffalo was essentially invisible against a dark background, he said. Maintaining that all passengers and crew were safe, he said an alternate aircraft was arranged to fly the passengers to Delhi, which left at 2255 hours last night. Noting that stray animals were a growing menace in some airports, the SpiceJet spokesperson said the incident has affected our regular operations and hence SpiceJet flights from Surat will now be suspended indefinitely. Suspension will be effective immediately. SpiceJet said the buffalo, which was killed in the accident on Thursday evening, was essentially invisible against a dark background. One of our aircraft hit a large stray animal on take-off roll at Surat airport a short while ago. (1/2) Shaf Pathan hindustantimes/india-news/spicejet-flight-hits-animal-before-take-off-at-surat-airport/article1-1283378.aspx
Posted on: Sun, 09 Nov 2014 11:44:41 +0000