LAHORE/FAISALABAD: Planes narrowly escaped disaster in Lahore and Faisalabad after bird strikes, with all passengers remaining safe in both incidents. The flights were delayed following the events. In Lahore, a private airline flight bound for Karachi, and in Faisalabad, a flight arriving from Dubai, were both hit by birds.
At Lahore Airport, just as a private airline flight was preparing for takeoff on the runway, a bird suddenly struck the aircraft from the front. The aircraft was immediately returned to the parking bay, and engineers began a full inspection.
Meanwhile, in Faisalabad, a bird collided with the engine of a Dubai-bound flight, resulting in a technical fault in the engine. The pilot, demonstrating great skill, managed to land the plane safely. All passengers remained unharmed.
It is worth noting that a few days earlier, a private airline flight from Lahore to Skardu was also hit by a bird. The bird strike affected two blades of engine number 2. The aircraft had to be landed immediately after the incident. A spokesperson for the airline confirmed that flight PA-481 experienced a bird strike while taking off from Lahore. The flight was immediately returned, and 149 passengers were offloaded.
The spokesperson added that flight PA-481 from Lahore to Skardu was canceled. A few days ago, on the direction of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, significant measures were taken to protect passenger aircraft within the province’s airspace.
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The Chief Minister ordered a grand operation for aircraft safety and directed Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb to mobilize Punjab’s first Wildlife Force. Following her instructions, the District Administration, Wildlife, and Environmental Protection Authority were activated to ensure safe air travel.
It was decided to create aerial safety perimeters (“ring fencing”) to declare certain areas of Lahore as “No-Bird Zones.” A notification issued in this regard stated that poultry farms, bakeries, and slaughterhouses established without proper environmental safeguards would be banned.
Strict enforcement of environmental regulations would be applied to leather-tanning and leather goods manufacturing units. Dumping waste near airports would be completely banned, and the use of lidded trash bins was made mandatory.