KOZHIKODE: A dash across
runway by a common palm civet (paradoxurus hermaphrodites) - also known as
toddy cat for its fondness for palm flower sap -- has cost the national carrier
Rs 10 crore in damage, making it one of the costliest runway animal incursion
accidents in the country in recent times.
Official figures put the total loss of airlines in the country due to bird/animal hits at Rs 18 crore in 2011 and Rs 22 crore in 2010. Bird hits are a common safety hazard but it could perhaps be the first time in aviation history that a palm civet has turned the villain. An expert has confirmed the animal as palm civet after examining the remains retrieved from the runway.
The toddy cat had struck the AI 997 flight from Karipur to Sharjah at 8.06 pm on Saturday, almost bringing down the aircraft. Airline sources said fire was spotted in the engine after takeoff and the pilot had made an emergency landing, averting a major disaster.
They said the animal that got sucked into the engine during takeoff had caused extensive damage. As many as 32 engine blades -- each costing Rs 12.4 lakh - would have to be replaced along with the engine cowling, they said. The blades and the cowling were bought to Karipur from Mumbai on Tuesday. The experts are also conducting a boroscopic examination to find if internal components had sustained any damage.
The incident has also left the Karipur airport authorities flummoxed as it
This is the first time that such an animal had made its way to the runway. Airport director J P Alex said he had asked the zoology department of the Calicut University to provide details regarding the habitat of the animal.
Dr Zubair Medammal, assistant professor, zoology department, CU said the body parts recovered from the runway clearly established that it was a palm civet that struck the aircraft. "We have got traces of fur, skin and flesh of the animal from the runway, which show that it is a palm civet. We are also subjecting the body parts to DNA analysis," he said.
The airport director said the airport environment management committee (AEMC) would meet soon and beef up the airfield security. "We have been rigorously following the safety guidelines; we have an eight-metre-high wall across the nine-km perimeter of the airport. In addition, there is a 1.5 metre barbed fence on top of it. We have also employed six bird scarers. The CISF personnel are also on constant patrol on the perimeter road," he said.
Meanwhile, DGCA air safety regional controller in Chennai S Durai Raj concluded a two-day probe into the incident on Tuesday.
Official figures put the total loss of airlines in the country due to bird/animal hits at Rs 18 crore in 2011 and Rs 22 crore in 2010. Bird hits are a common safety hazard but it could perhaps be the first time in aviation history that a palm civet has turned the villain. An expert has confirmed the animal as palm civet after examining the remains retrieved from the runway.
The toddy cat had struck the AI 997 flight from Karipur to Sharjah at 8.06 pm on Saturday, almost bringing down the aircraft. Airline sources said fire was spotted in the engine after takeoff and the pilot had made an emergency landing, averting a major disaster.
They said the animal that got sucked into the engine during takeoff had caused extensive damage. As many as 32 engine blades -- each costing Rs 12.4 lakh - would have to be replaced along with the engine cowling, they said. The blades and the cowling were bought to Karipur from Mumbai on Tuesday. The experts are also conducting a boroscopic examination to find if internal components had sustained any damage.
The incident has also left the Karipur airport authorities flummoxed as it
This is the first time that such an animal had made its way to the runway. Airport director J P Alex said he had asked the zoology department of the Calicut University to provide details regarding the habitat of the animal.
Dr Zubair Medammal, assistant professor, zoology department, CU said the body parts recovered from the runway clearly established that it was a palm civet that struck the aircraft. "We have got traces of fur, skin and flesh of the animal from the runway, which show that it is a palm civet. We are also subjecting the body parts to DNA analysis," he said.
The airport director said the airport environment management committee (AEMC) would meet soon and beef up the airfield security. "We have been rigorously following the safety guidelines; we have an eight-metre-high wall across the nine-km perimeter of the airport. In addition, there is a 1.5 metre barbed fence on top of it. We have also employed six bird scarers. The CISF personnel are also on constant patrol on the perimeter road," he said.
Meanwhile, DGCA air safety regional controller in Chennai S Durai Raj concluded a two-day probe into the incident on Tuesday.
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