New Delhi. The rising number of birds around Indira Gandhi International Airport, attracted by garbage and open sewage, is emerging as a serious challenge to flight safety. Bird-strike incidents involving aircraft at Delhi Airport more than doubled in a year. According to the available data, 325 such incidents were recorded in 2024, while the number rose to 700 in 2025. In 2026, 350 cases had already been reported by August 31. With an average of nearly two incidents being reported every day, concerns are growing over the increasing concentration of birds around the airport.
Delhi Airport operator DIAL presented the issue before the Airport Environment Management Committee. According to DIAL, garbage dumped in areas surrounding the airport, open sewage and waste generated by illegally operating meat shops are attracting large numbers of birds. The birds gather in these areas and can enter the flight paths of aircraft during take-off and landing. Since aircraft operate at relatively low altitudes during these stages, the risk of bird strikes is particularly high.
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DIAL has sought concrete and effective action from the concerned departments to prevent such incidents. While no major accident has occurred so far because of the problem, the increasing number of birds and bird-strike incidents has raised concerns that the situation could have serious consequences in the future.
A collision between a bird and an aircraft is known as a bird strike. When a bird is sucked into a jet engine during flight, the incident is referred to as bird ingestion. Such an incident can damage the engine’s fan blades and compressor and, in serious cases, affect engine performance. A bird hitting the cockpit windshield can also damage the glass. Bird strikes are particularly critical during take-off and landing because the aircraft is flying at a low altitude and pilots have limited time to respond to an emergency.
Inspection Reveals Several Serious Gaps
Following directions from the Airport Environment Management Committee, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Kapashera conducted an inspection of areas surrounding the airport. The inspection identified several locations where garbage and sewage were providing food and water sources that attract birds.
At Rangpuri Hills, sewage was found flowing in the open, with people also dumping garbage into it. This is creating conditions that attract large numbers of birds. The Delhi Jal Board was supposed to construct a sewage treatment plant at the site, but the project remains pending nearly one and a half years after land became available. The committee chairman has directed the Jal Board to complete the project at the earliest.
At Indira Market, waste from the chicken market was reportedly being discharged into open drains. The waste is considered one of the major factors attracting birds to the area.
In the Dwarka area, debris was found dumped on both sides of the railway track leading from Runway 10 towards Dwarka. In addition, pigeons are regularly fed in Dwarka Sector 8, resulting in large flocks gathering in the area. The committee chairman has directed the concerned departments to take immediate measures to address these problems.
Serious Aircraft Incidents Have Occurred in the Past
Bird strikes involving aircraft have resulted in fatal accidents in the past. On December 29, 2024, an aircraft accident in South Korea involved a bird strike as part of the sequence of events examined during the investigation, and 179 people died in the crash. In 2012, an aircraft crashed after striking a bird during take-off in Kathmandu, killing 19 people.
More recently, on July 13, 2026, a British Airways aircraft travelling from London to Chennai struck a bird while landing, although the aircraft landed safely. On August 24, 2026, an Air India flight arriving in Patna from Delhi also reported a bird-strike incident.
With bird activity continuing to rise around Delhi Airport, removing garbage, controlling open sewage, managing waste from meat markets and preventing practices that attract large bird populations have become important measures for reducing risks to flight operations.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
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