Foreign object on runway forces flight to cancel landing at Bengaluru airport

The flight takes off from the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: Photo for representation only

An Air India Express flight from Goa had to abort landing at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) and make a U-turn on Saturday.

According to sources, the flight, which was scheduled to land at 20:10 at KIA, was asked by Air Traffic Control (ATC) to turn around after noticing a foreign object on the runway.

“ATC officials noticed a foreign object on the runway and asked the flight’s pilots to make a U-turn. After a few minutes, the plane landed safely at the airport,” the sources said.

Officials did not specify whether the foreign object seen on the runway was an animal.

On October 19, an official said, “On October 17 at 19:51, an Indigo flight which was landing reported a rabbit crossing the runway. For the safety of the aircraft, another aircraft was asked to go around while the team carried out an inspection on the tarmac. The team did not find anything on the tarmac. Subsequently, the plane which flew over landed safely.”

Published – 18 Oct 2026 21:38 IST