An Air Arabia flight from Abu Dhabi made a safe landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala on Monday, April 21, 2026, following a suspected bird strike during its initial takeoff. The incident involved flight G9 424, an Airbus A320, which departed from Abu Dhabi International Airport.
According to initial reports from airport authorities, the pilots suspected a bird strike shortly after takeoff. As a standard precautionary measure, the crew decided to return to Abu Dhabi. The aircraft landed back at its origin airport without further incident for a safety inspection.
Following checks, the same aircraft later resumed its journey to Thiruvananthapuram, where it landed safely in the evening. Airport officials confirmed there were no injuries to passengers or crew, and operations at both airports continued normally.
Bird strikes are a known aviation hazard, especially during takeoff and landing phases. Airlines and airports follow strict safety protocols to assess and manage such situations, ensuring passenger safety is the top priority.
