Sharjah bound flight grounded after bird hit

Coimbatore: A Sharjah-bound Air Arabia flight, with 164 passengers and crew on board, was grounded after it suffered a bird hit in one of its engines, during take off at the Coimbatore International Airport today.

Airport sources said the incident occurred when the aircraft was being taxied on the runway for the take off at 7.00 AM on Monday morning.

The sources said a large-sized bird, suspected to be a kite, hit one of the engines of the aircraft, following which the pilot aborted the take off.

After the flight was moved to the apron (a paved surface where aircraft stand while not being used), the passengers were alighted from the aircraft.

Aircraft engineers were in the process of rectifying the damages caused by the bird hit. (UNI)