Pune, 20 June 2025: An Air India flight from Delhi to Pune suffered a bird hit on Friday, leading the airline to cancel its return journey to the capital. The incident came to light after the aircraft landed safely in Pune and routine checks revealed the damage.

In an official statement, Air India confirmed that the aircraft has been grounded for a detailed inspection by its engineering team. Due to this, flight AI2470, which was scheduled to fly from Pune to Delhi on June 20, has been cancelled.

The airline has assured passengers that it is taking all necessary measures to minimise inconvenience. Accommodation has been arranged for stranded travellers, and passengers are being offered full refunds or free rescheduling if they wish to change their plans.

Additionally, Air India is making alternative arrangements to fly affected passengers to Delhi as soon as possible. The airline has urged passengers to stay in touch for further updates on their revised travel plans.

Although bird hits are not unusual in aviation, airlines handle them with utmost caution. Detailed inspections and maintenance checks are conducted to ensure that the aircraft is completely safe before it returns to service.