"Emirates Flight Incident: Mumbai's Flamingo Tragedy Revealed!"

Emirates Flight Collides with Mumbai's Flamingos!

Officials from the forests stated that 36 flamingo carcasses were discovered near Mumbai's Ghatkopar area, prompting an investigation to determine if there are more casualties.

A Mumbai-Dubai Emirates flight, carrying 310 passengers, collided with a flock of flamingos over the Laxmi Nagar region of Pantnagar in Mumbai's Ghatkopar on Monday night, resulting in the deaths of at least 36 flamingos. An airport source in Mumbai informed HT that EK 508, an Emirates flight, reported a bird strike upon arrival at 9.18 pm. The flight, which sustained damage, safely landed at Mumbai airport and is currently grounded there.

Additional chief conservator of forests (Mangrove protection cell) SY Rama Rao mentioned that 36 flamingo carcasses were discovered in the vicinity, and efforts are underway to ascertain if more flamingos were affected. He stated that they were struck by an aircraft, and a search is ongoing for additional impacted flamingos.

Deputy conservator of the Mangrove protection cell, Deepak Khade, confirmed, "The airport authorities have informed us about the bird strike. This occurred near Laxmi Nagar (northern end of Ghatkopar East)."

Prashant Bahadure, range forest officer of the Mangrove protection cell, stated, "I visited the airport, but access was denied. Airport authorities informed us that these flamingos were struck by an Emirates flight. We received reports from local residents, indicating that the incident likely occurred between 8.40 pm to 8.50 pm, and our team arrived at the scene by 9.15 pm."

Environmentalist D Stalin of NGO Vanshakti remarked, "Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the birds' collision with the airplane. My hypothesis is that the newly installed power lines in the sanctuary area are disorienting the birds. This should never have been permitted... There were many alternative routes available. By granting permissions for power lines (which were previously prohibited within sanctuaries), the wildlife board acquiesced to the power company. Instead of protecting the Thane Creek Wildlife Sanctuary, it was bulldozed and towers were erected."

Stalin suggested that CIDCO, which raised concerns about bird strikes endangering Navi Mumbai airport, may have an indirect involvement in this incident. "The wetlands in the NRI complex area and TS Chanakya lakes serve as habitats for flamingo flocks. Over the past month, attempts have been made to disturb the birds there and convert the water bodies for construction. If someone or some people had disturbed the birds at night, the flocks may have attempted to fly towards Thane Creek and, consequently, met with this accident,"