Plane Collides With Stray Buffalo in India

Indian airline SpiceJet has confirmed that a Boeing
737-800 plane was grounded when it struck a
wandering buffalo on the runway at an airport in
the city of Surat, India . The plane was carrying 146
passengers and was en-route Delhi.
SpiceJet released a statement saying the
airline has suspended all flights from the
Surat airport after a plane carrying 146
people collided with the buffalo Thursday
while preparing to take off for a flight to
Delhi.
The passengers from the Boeing 737-800
were moved to another aircraft to resume
their journey, the airline said.
The impact killed the buffalo and damaged
the plane's engines.
"Stray animals are a growing menace in
some airports. This incident has affected our
regular operations and hence SpiceJet
flights from Surat will now be suspended
indefinitely," the SpiceJet statement read.
Sanjiv Kapoor, the airline's chief operating
officer, blamed the airport's security for the
"simply inexcusable" incident.
"Those trying to absolve airport by equating
animal with bird strikes… animals do not fly
over airport fences-they walk through
gaps!" he tweeted.
Surat airport officials said the incident is under
investigation.
Posted By David Aniemeka