IndiGo Flight 6E 437 Forced to Land in Varanasi Following Critical Bird Strike

January 13, 2026 at 01:28 AM•3 min read

IndiGo flight 6E 437 made an emergency landing at Varanasi after a bird strike damaged the aircraft's front, safely evacuating all 216 passengers, highlighting wildlife risk.

Key Points

1IndiGo Flight 6E 437, carrying 216 passengers, executed an emergency landing at Varanasi on Sunday night following a bird strike.
2The incident caused damage to the aircraft's front portion, but the pilot ensured the safe evacuation of all passengers.
3DGCA data indicates a significant wildlife hazard, with Indian airports recording 2,066 bird/animal strikes in 2024.
4The event highlights the critical importance of strict wildlife hazard management protocols at all aerodromes.

An IndiGo flight, operating as Flight 6E 437, was forced to make an emergency landing at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi on Sunday night. The flight, en route from Gorakhpur to Bengaluru, encountered a commercial aviation bird strike shortly after takeoff. Officials confirmed the incident, stating that the aircraft suffered damage to its front portion.

Incident Details and Response

The IndiGo emergency landing was a precautionary measure. The pilot immediately contacted Varanasi Air Traffic Control upon realizing the severity of the aircraft wildlife strike. The crew successfully landed the aircraft, ensuring the safety of all 216 passengers on board. Airport Director Puneet Gupta confirmed the safe evacuation of all individuals. The airline arranged alternative flights for the stranded passengers. Some passengers were flown to their destination on Monday, while others were accommodated on different services. The aircraft involved is understood to be part of the Airbus A320neo family.

Aviation Safety and Bird Strike Risk

This Flight 6E 437 incident underscores the persistent challenge of wildlife hazard management in Indian airspace. Bird strikes pose a serious threat to aviation safety standards globally. In India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) monitors these events closely. DGCA data shows the scale of the problem. Indian airports record approximately three bird strikes every day. Confirmed bird strikes reported to the DGCA reached 1,278 in 2024. The total number of bird and animal strikes across 20 major airports was 2,066 in 2024. Such incidents most often occur at lower altitudes, during takeoff, initial climb, or landing.

Mitigation and Regulatory Action

Regulators emphasize the need for robust mitigation strategies. The DGCA has repeatedly directed airport operators to review their wildlife hazard management plans. Effective measures are crucial for reducing the risk of a front portion damage or engine ingestion. These strategies include:

Strict enforcement of rules against dumping garbage near airports.
Prohibiting the slaughter of animals within a 10 km radius.
Deploying dedicated wildlife management teams and biologists.
Using non-lethal deterrents like acoustic devices and pyrotechnics.

While the safe outcome of the Varanasi airport emergency is a testament to the crew's skill, the event serves as a reminder. Continuous vigilance and investment in mitigation are essential for maintaining high aviation safety standards. The global aviation community tracks such events for insights into operational risk. Read more commercial aviation news and analysis at flying.flights. The aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, will also review the damage assessment. This is standard procedure following a serious wildlife strike.