A Delhi-bound SpiceJet plane was taking off at the Surat airport on Thursday, November 6 when it hit a very unusual object.
According to Rediff News, the plane, which was carrying approximately 150 passengers, hit a stray buffalo on the runway, causing concern for the passengers on board.
While no passengers were injured during the incident, the same cannot be said for the buffalo. According to the airline, the buffalo was “essentially invisible against a black background,” and was killed when the plane collided with it.
Because the left engine was severely damaged, all the passengers of the Boeing 737-800 aircraft were transferred to another plane.
“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 airline said in a statement.
Prabhakar Joshi, one of the passengers on the plane, said he is very thankful that he and the other passengers are safe. He said it could have been a lot worse. “If it had been seconds later, after the plane lifted off, it would have been a disaster for us,” Joshi said.
SpiceJet, India’s fourth largest airline by market share, later tweeted about the incident. “One of our aircraft hit a large stray animal on take-off roll at Surat airport a short while ago,” the wrote. “All passengers and crew safe, stray animals a growing menace in some airports.”
One of our aircraft hit a large stray animal on take-off roll at Surat airport a short while ago. (1/2)
— SpiceJet (@flyspicejet) November 6, 2014
All passengers and crew safe, stray animals a growing menace in some airports. (2/2)
— SpiceJet (@flyspicejet) November 6, 2014