Jan 11th 2026 : An IndiGo Airbus A321-200N was forced to divert shortly after departure from Gorakhpur after sustaining a bird strike during the initial climb.
The aircraft, registered VT-IMR, was operating flight 6E-437 from Gorakhpur to Bangalore with 216 people on board. Shortly after takeoff from runway 11 at Gorakhpur, a bird struck the aircraft’s nose section. In response, the flight crew stopped the climb at flight level FL160 to assess the situation.
Following the impact, the crew elected to divert to Varanasi, the nearest suitable airport. The aircraft landed safely on runway 27 at Varanasi approximately 30 minutes after departure. There were no reports of injuries among passengers or crew.
Post-flight inspections revealed dents and cracks to the aircraft’s radome, consistent with the reported bird strike.
As a result of the incident, the remainder of the scheduled flight was cancelled. The aircraft has remained on the ground for about 30 hours after landing, as repairs and inspections are carried out before it can return to service.
Bird strikes during the takeoff and initial climb phase pose a particular operational risk, as aircraft are at low altitude and high workload conditions. In this case, the crew’s decision to level off early and divert ensured a safe outcome.
