Emirates flight kills over 30 flamingos near Mumbai Airport: damaged carrier lands safely
New Delhi: A disturbing incident has unfolded near Mumbai’s coastline, leaving a tragic trail of destruction among a flock of migratory flamingos. Over 30 of these majestic birds lost their lives after crashing into an Emirates flight, EK 508, during its approach to the city’s airport.
The incident, which occurred late Monday night, resulted in significant damage to the aircraft. Despite the bird strike, the plane managed to land safely at Mumbai airport without any major issue.
The wetlands along Mumbai and Navi Mumbai’s coast are a vital winter habitat for flamingos, with these vibrant birds migrating to the region from December to March and April. Forest officials confirmed the unfortunate incident, retrieving 29 flamingo carcasses on Monday night and discovering another four to five bodies on Tuesday morning.
As the number according to the officials is more, a search is underway for additional flamingos killed in the crash. The incident has raised concerns about the potential impact of development and infrastructure projects on wildlife habitats, particularly in areas crucial for migratory species.
According to the Hindustan Times, mangrove protection cell’s deputy conservator Deepak Khade said, “The airport authorities have confirmed to us about the bird strike. This has happened closer to Laxmi Nagar (northern end of Ghatkopar East).”
Also, the airport authorities didn’t answer the respond to the crash. “I went to the airport, but they didn’t allow me entry. The airport authorities have told us these flamingos were hit by an Emirates flight. We got a call from the local residents and the incident may have happened between 8.40 pm to 8.50 pm and our team was on spot at 9.15 pm,’’ Prashant Bahadure, range forest officer of the mangrove protection cell was quoted as saying by HT.
Environmentalist D. Stalin of the NGO Vanshakti points to the recent construction of power lines through the Thane Creek Wildlife Sanctuary as a potential contributing factor, suggesting that the lines may have disoriented the birds. Stalin also alleges that attempts to displace the birds from their habitat in the NRI complex area and TS Chanakya lakes, aimed at facilitating construction projects, could have played a role in the tragic accident.
“Wetlands in NRI complex area and TS Chanakya lakes are the home to flamingo flocks. Since last month, efforts have been made to disturb the birds there and get the water bodies to be brought under construction. If someone or some people had chased the birds out at night , the flocks might have attempted to fly towards Thane Creek and, in the process, met with the accident,” he said.