Major tragedy averted: Spicejet flight collides with animal on runway, passengers safe

New Delhi, Dec 4: As many as 53 people including 49 passengers onboard a SpiceJet flight from Mumbai had a close shave after a herd of wild animals came across the Bombardier Q400 aircraft just when it landed at the Jabalpur airport today.

The aircraft's main and nose landing gear collapsed, however all passengers and crew are safe, the airline said tonight.

"Spicejet Q400, VT-SUC, operating flight SG 2458, Mumbai to Jabalpur, hit wild animals on runway while landing. Aircraft left the runway to the left and main and nose landing gear collapsed. All 49 passengers and 4 crew members safe," a SpiceJet spokesperson said.

The incident happened around 13.45 this afternoon. However, according to sources, it was a herd of 35 wild boars who all of a sudden came on the runway while it was taxiing.

"When the pilot saw the herd of wild boars, he applied emergency break. In the process some boars also got killed," they said.

PTI