An Emirates flight bound for Mumbai collided with a flock of flamingos, resulting in the death of 39 of the birds.
39 flamingos were found dead in multiple parts of Ghatkopar East on Monday night, following a collision with an Emirates aircraft landing at Mumbai airport.
The search and retrieval operation, led by Forest Department Officer Amol Bhagwat and assisted by the Maharashtra Security Forces, began around 10 p.m. after receiving multiple complaints from local residents.
Around 29 carcasses were discovered on Monday night, with an additional 10 found on Tuesday morning.
SY Rama Rao, the additional chief conservator of forests (Mangrove protection cell), stated, "We found 39 flamingos during a night-long search operation, which was called off at 11 a.m. on Tuesday. We have also requested locals to alert us if they come across any other affected birds."
As the Emirates EK 508 flight from Dubai to Mumbai was about to land at around 9 p.m., the flamingos, which were heading northward, collided with it. The pilots reported the bird strike to Air Traffic Control shortly after landing at 9:15 p.m.
Locals found flamingo carcasses scattered over a half-kilometer radius. One bird, initially rescued alive, succumbed to its injuries shortly after.
Experts and activists have raised concerns over the incident, attributing it to inadequate urban planning.
This tragedy has prompted environmentalists to intensify their efforts to protect the biodiversity of Navi Mumbai.
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