An IndiGo flight from Nagpur to Kolkata was forced to return shortly after takeoff on Tuesday morning after hitting a bird, the airline confirmed. The pilots made the decision to turn back to Nagpur as a precautionary measure.

The flight, IndiGo 6E812, was later cancelled for the day due to the need for a detailed inspection and maintenance of the aircraft following the incident.

IndiGo said it provided refreshments to the affected passengers and offered alternate travel arrangements or a full refund for those who chose to cancel.

“We deeply regret the inconvenience caused by this unforeseen situation. The safety and security of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority,” an IndiGo spokesperson said.

According to flight tracking website Flightradar24, the Airbus A320-251N had departed on schedule around 7:05 AM. Reports suggest the bird strike occurred shortly after takeoff and damaged the front section of the aircraft.

This incident comes just a week after another IndiGo flight faced issues mid-air. A Dubai-bound flight from Surat, Gujarat, carrying around 150 passengers, was diverted to Ahmedabad due to a technical issue.

The flight had taken off from Surat at around 9:30 AM on August 28 and safely landed at Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at approximately 11:40 AM.

“There was a technical issue mid-air, so the flight was diverted as a precaution. It was not an emergency landing,” an airport official said.

IndiGo later arranged another aircraft, and the passengers departed for Dubai around 1:45 PM.