On Tuesday morning, an IndiGo Airlines flight from Mumbai was diverted to Bhopal after the pilot reported seeing a dog on the runway at Nagpur’s Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport. The flight was originally scheduled to land at 12:30 am, but the pilot decided to divert to Bhopal instead, citing safety concerns due to the presence of the animal. The plan then returned to Nagpur at around 2:30 am, causing a 2-hour delay and leaving passengers dissatisfied.
Air traffic control officials at the airport conducted an inspection, but found no evidence of the dog’s presence on the runway. Despite this, they acknowledged that stray animals from the surrounding area, particularly from the end of the airport near Shivangaon, could enter the airport. The officials emphasized that this was an isolated incident and that there have been no recent reports of animal infestations at the airport.
The pilot’s decision to divert the flight was seen as a precautionary measure, as the presence of an animal on the runway could have posed a risk to the safety of the aircraft and its occupants. Air Traffic Control (ATC) had given clearance for the plane to land, but the pilot’s judgment was to prioritize safety and take an alternative route. The incident highlights the importance of vigilance and quick thinking by pilots in ensuring the safety of passengers and crew.