An Emirates flight from Dubai to Mumbai struck a flock of flamingos upon landing, resulting in the deaths of around 40 birds, officials confirmed on Tuesday. The incident, which occurred on the night of May 20, has sparked environmental concerns and calls for a thorough investigation.
"Emirates can confirm that EK508 from Dubai to Mumbai on May 20 was involved in a bird strike incident upon landing.
The aircraft landed safely and all passengers and crew disembarked without injury. However, sadly, a number of flamingos were lost, and Emirates is cooperating with the authorities on the matter," said an Emirates spokesperson.
The aircraft sustained damage during the incident, leading to the cancellation of the return flight EK509, which was scheduled to depart for Dubai that same night.
Passengers and crew were accommodated overnight, and a replacement aircraft was arranged to depart on Tuesday night.
Emirates apologised for the inconvenience, emphasising that the safety of passengers and crew remains paramount.
The bird strike occurred near Laxmi Nagar in Ghatkopar East and claimed the lives of at least 36 flamingos, according to a forest official.
Environmental activists have demanded an investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), arguing that urban planners have ignored previous warnings about such incidents.
While a police official stated that the birds were hit before the aircraft landed, Emirates maintained that the bird strike happened upon landing.
The aftermath saw stray dogs scavenging some of the fallen birds, with locals spotting various body parts. Pawan Sharma, honorary wildlife warden with the forest department, noted that the carcasses were sent for autopsy and would be disposed of according to protocol.
Zoologist Chinmay Joshi emphasised the need for the airport authorities to review the Wildlife Conflict Mitigation and Management Plan in coordination with the forest department and wildlife experts to prevent future incidents.
B N Kumar, Director of the NatConnect Foundation, an environmental protection organisation in Navi Mumbai, called for a high-level probe by the DGCA to determine how the Emirates aircraft encountered the birds and why the flock was not detected on the pilot's radar.
"Had any passenger been affected due to the bird hit, it would have made global headlines, but the death of 40 flamingos does not seem to bother the authorities and urban planners in particular," Kumar remarked.
He also warned that the upcoming international airport in Navi Mumbai could be similarly vulnerable to such incidents, given the systematic destruction of wetlands and flamingo habitats despite warnings from organizations like the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS).
BNHS researcher Mrugank Prabhu suggested that the flamingos were likely en route to Gujarat, and their deaths should serve as a warning of potential disasters.
Environmental activist D Stalin from NGO Vanshakti speculated that new power lines through sanctuary areas might be causing disorientation among the birds, contributing to the tragic event.
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