An Air India Express flight from Pune to Bhubaneswar aborted take-off after a bird strike damaged the right engine.
The incident occurred just before the aircraft reached the critical "V1" speed, allowing the pilot to safely stop.
All 140 passengers were safely de-boarded; the aircraft was grounded due to significant engine damage.
Pune 7th August 2025: An Air India Express flight (IX-1098) bound for Bhubaneswar had to abort take-off at Pune Airport after a bird strike caused serious damage to one of its engines. The incident took place around 4:10 PM yesterday, just seconds before the aircraft was about to lift off.
As the plane was speeding down the runway, a bird hit the right-side engine. The impact pulled the bird inside the engine, damaging seven blades. The aircraft was traveling at approximately 280 km/h, a speed referred to in aviation as “V1”, which is the critical decision point for pilots during take-off.
Fortunately, the pilot heard a loud noise and immediately stopped the aircraft before it crossed the V1 limit. If the plane had gone any faster, take-off would have been unavoidable, even with engine trouble, raising the risk of a serious accident.
Following the aborted take-off, the aircraft was moved to Parking Bay 8. All 140 passengers were safely de-boarded. After inspection, the airline confirmed major engine damage, and the aircraft was grounded and the flight cancelled.
The timely decision by the pilot not only prevented a possible disaster but also ensured passenger safety without any injuries reported.