An aircraft landing at the Mumbai airport collided with a flock of flamingos, killing 36 birds in the Lakshminagar area of Pant nagar in Ghatkopar on Monday night, May 20. A search operation is ongoing for the lookout of more injured flamingos in the area.
According to sources at the Mumbai airport, the incident took place when Emirates flight number EK 508 was landing on Monday at 9:18 pm. But the bird strike did not affect the landing. The pilot managed to land the plane safely. As soon as the plane landed, the airport authorities were informed that the flamingos had been struck. At present the aircraft has been grounded and the aircraft engineer is inspecting the aircraft.
Additional Chief Conservator of Forest Mangrove Conservation Division S. Y. According to information provided by Rama Rao, dead bodies of 29 flamingos have been found in this area. An investigation is underway to find out if more flamingos were killed in the incident. The incident took place near Lakshminagar (north end of Ghatkopar East) and the airport administration has confirmed the incident of the plane hitting the birds. Deepak Khade, Deputy Conservator of Mangrove Protection Cell, gave this information.
Prashant Bahadure, range forest officer of mangrove conservation unit, said, "When I went to the airport, the authorities did not allow me entry. Airport authorities have told us that these flamingos were hit by an Emirates flight. The incident may have taken place between 8.40 and 8.50 pm. We got a call from a local resident. After that, our team reached the spot at half past nine in the night."
Environmentalist of the NGO 'Vanshakti' D. Stalin said, "What caused the bird to hit the plane is being investigated. I guess the new power lines passing through the sanctuary are confusing the birds. He should never have been allowed to. There were many alternative routes. The Wildlife Board had surrendered to the power company while granting permits for power lines (which were previously not allowed in the sanctuary). Stalin said that the power company has erected towers by destroying the Thane Bay Wildlife Sanctuary."
CIDCO had claimed that planes landing at the newly constructed Navi Mumbai International Airport may be hit by birds. Therefore, since last month, flocks of flamingos in the wetland area of NRI Complex in Navi Mumbai and in TS Chanakya lake are being harassed and driven away, Stalin said. Stalin suggested that on Monday night too, someone might have chased these birds and the flock of flamingos might have been trying to fly towards Thane Bay and had met with an accident.
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