SURAT: About 170 passengers on a Delhi-bound SpiceJet flight had a miraculous escape at Surat airport when the aircraft hit a buffalo that had strayed into the runway on Thursday.

The plane hit the animal a few hundred metres into take-off at around 7.25pm. The pilots immediately stopped the aircraft and took it to the parking area to check the damage.

“One of our aircraft hit a stray animal on take-off roll at the Surat airport,” a SpiceJet spokesperson from Bangalore told TOI. “All passengers and crew staff are safe. A replacement flight is likely to arrive from Bangalore or Mumbai airport to take the passengers to Delhi.”

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There was confusion among the airport authorities as to which animal had hit the aircraft. But sources at the airport said it was a buffalo and the impact was powerful. The Boeing aircraft sustained considerable damage.

“The passengers had a miraculous escape,” airport director Dr SD Sharma told TOI. “There was no breakdown of the engine or other technical fault. The aircraft hit a stray animal during take-off. The aircraft will have to undergo a thorough investigation to check the damage. We’ve ordered a probe into the incident. A detailed report will be in within a couple of days.”

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