Runway accident: Indian aircraft hits and kills buffalo at airport

An Indian airliner on Thursday hit and killed a buffalo on the runway during take-off at an airport in the city of Surat. 

The aircraft, an Indian budget carrier, Spicejet was carrying 140 passengers and six crew members on route Delhi before the accident occurred.

The flight was suspended and there was no injury to any of the passengers who were later flown to Delhi in another aircraft.

A spokesperson for Spicejet disclosed that the aircraft’s engine was damaged and that Spicejet services in the city have been suspended indefinitely till investigations into the accident were completed.

A source in the Civil Aviation Ministry said the buffalo must have strayed through a beach in the fence, from one of the cattle grazing fields around the airport area. The source said the security breach will be investigated and measures would be put in place to prevent a reoccurrence.