An Air India flight to Newark, New York was forced to return to Delhi after a live bat made its way onto the plane.
The bat reportedly began flying around the business class cabin approximately 30 minutes after flight AI105 departed at 2.20 am. The plane circled for over 2 hours before it landed back in Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.
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The plane underwent a deep clean and complete fumigation after it landed and was met by wildlife staff who retrieved the bat’s carcass.
“AI-105 DEL-EWR returned to Delhi after departure after this local standby emergency was declared. On arrival, it was learnt that crew members saw a bat inside the cabin. Wildlife staff were called to catch and take away the bat. The aircraft landed safely at around 3:55 am, and later it was declared Aircraft on Grounded (AoG),” news agency ANI quoted DGCA officials as saying.
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An Air India official speculated that the bat may have entered the aircraft when it was being loaded for in-flight catering.
Flights between India and the United States are currently restricted to US citizens, as well as permanent US residents and their family members.
Some other non-US citizens, including students, are also allowed to fly from India to the United States under a Proclamation signed by President Biden to limit the risk of Covid-19.
WATCH: @airindiainflight AI-105 from Delhi to Newark returned midway on Thursday after the pilot reported the presence of a bat onboard to ATC.
Fumigation was carried out and a dead bat carcass was retrieved from seat 8DEF area. pic.twitter.com/haq9B4tzDB
