Delhi-bound Air India plane cancelled its return trip after it was hit by a bird on runway at Chhattisgarh’s Swami Vivekanand Airport in Raipur on Tuesday.

Union minister of State for Tribal Affairs Renuka Singh was one among the 179 passengers travelling to Delhi.

Airport Director Rakesh Ranjan Sahay told media that Air India flight AI 469, with 179 passengers, was going to Delhi from Raipur airport when a bird hit the plane at 10.05am following which the take-off was cancelled.

Officials said that the passengers were deboarded after the incident. “Later, when the airport staff inspected the runaway, they found dead birds. The airport authorities and Air India staff are inspecting the aircraft and the exact damage is yet to ascertained,” he said.