According to sources, the step was taken so that the aircraft could land at the Delhi airport and technicians could check the plane for any technical glitch before the clearance.

Sources said that bird-hit incidents are not uncommon, but they pose major technical challenges and can prove to be fatally dangerous.

In February, an IndiGo flight from Surat to Delhi had to be diverted to Ahmedabad after it suffered a bird strike during takeoff.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed the incident, adding that the aircraft landed safely at Ahmedabad.