Air India A321 at Kozhikode on Dec 8th 2012, cat strike

Last Update: December 11, 2012 / 17:38:37 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Dec 8, 2012

Classification
Incident

Airline
Air India

Flight number
AI-997

Departure
Kozhikode, India

Destination
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Aircraft Registration
VT-PPU

Aircraft Type
Airbus A321

ICAO Type Designator
A321

An Air India Airbus A321-200, registration VT-PPU performing flight AI-997 from Kozhikode (India) to Sharjah (United Arab Emirates) with 168 people on board, was in the initial climb out of Kozhikode when the right hand engine (CFM56) needed to be shut down due to severe vibrations. The aircraft returned to Kozhikode for a safe landing about 15 minutes after departure.

Passengers reported they observed sparks flying off the right hand engine and felt vibrations.

The airport reported a first inspection of the engine revealed blade damage, fur of a cat like animal, supposedly a palm civet also known as toddy cat, were recovered from the engine core, remains of a palm civet were recovered from the runway. The toddy cats are common around the airport however had never created a threat so far.

The flight was cancelled, the passengers were rebooked onto the next Air India Express flight early the following morning about 8 hours later.

Asian Palm Civets or Common Palm Civets weigh up to 5kg/11lbs with a body length of up to 53 cm/21 inches and an additional tail length of 48 cm/19 inches.
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Dec 8, 2012

Classification
Incident

Airline
Air India

Flight number
AI-997

Departure
Kozhikode, India

Destination
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Aircraft Registration
VT-PPU

Aircraft Type
Airbus A321

ICAO Type Designator
A321

This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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