Emirates plane Manju V and Alex Fernandes report A Boeing 777 from Dubai was involved in a deadly accident after hitting a flock of flamingos just one minute before touchdown at the city’s airport on Monday evening, marking the worst-ever human-wildlife interface in Mumbai.
The airline added that there were no injuries to the passengers or crew, and they disembarked safely. Authorities responsible for wildlife conservation are collaborating with those charged with aviation safety to identify what really happened.
In the 1990s, masses of flamingoes started migrating to Mumbai, and planes have been landing at Mumbai Airport since way back in 1940.
This is not the first time such an accident has occurred involving two people.
At around 8.30 pm on Monday, as a result of which there was a sudden crash that killed thirty-nine birds instantly; a flock of migratory lesser flamingos heading towards Kutch while their path spans 1,000 feet wide over Laxmi Baug In Ghatkopar East for instance.
280km/h – speed at which plane hit Flamingo
Accordingly, taking account of real-time flight tracker Flightradar24 data showed us that the Emirates aircraft was flying above Laxmi Baug east of Ghatkopar at velocity 280 km/h when crashed into the Flamingo mid-air.
It reminded me/us/us all about US Airways’ accident in 2009 when its A320 engines failed because it flew into a flock of migratory Canada geese causing what is known as “miracle” Hudson River landing.
For instance Lesser flamingos weigh only up to1.5 kg being the smallest species and fly up to speeds such as 40-60 km/hr during long-distance migrations e.g. Journey from Ulan to Kutch
“There were about thirty decapitated heads lying between Ghatkopar bus station and Shreyas Talkies,” said Sneh Bagwe, a wildlife management major who lives in the area. Not to mention that several dead birds were hung on wires overhead and others had littered the road while one crashed through a concrete roof.
Dipali Lokhande from Pant Nagar said she heard a loud bang around 8.30 pm. “We found a dismembered bird that had crashed through the asbestos corrugated roof leaving a big hole,” Locander said. She added that her family was assisted by policemen and fire brigade personnel who helped in removing the body.
According to Pritesh Modi, an NGO Leschenk Wildlife Welfare Association volunteer who took part in the search and rescue mission that began at night, there was pandemonium on streets.
Flamingos were 39 according to forest department.
Emirates made it clear that it would cooperate with the authorities and stated that its plane had been damaged. “…As a result, the return flight EK509 scheduled for 20 May to Dubai has been cancelled. All passengers and crew have been accommodated overnight and replacement aircraft are being arranged for all passengers (local time).” Neither Civil Aviation Authority nor Airports Authority of India issued any statement.
An official at Mumbai ATC said that an Emirates pilot bird strike Park reported this incident behind the bay.”Upon post-landing inspection, multiple bird strikes were discovered across the fuselage… Because we felt like the aircraft may have struck a bird before touchdown; therefore we deployed our team to inspect for dead birds on runway but there were none – not even one dead bird.”
Besides, according to what pilot said, this accident happened over just 1 minute prior landing of an airplane. They stressed they could not veer off course so close to landing strip under these circumstances.
