Bird-hit Cathay Pacific freighter returns to Delhi airport

A London-bound Cathay Pacific cargo aircraft from New Delhi returned to Indira Gandhi International Airport under emergency conditions due to a suspected bird hit.

"Our freighter CX37 from Delhi to London experienced a bird-hit upon take-off. Hence the captain decided to return to Delhi, and as per our protocol, all emergency procedures were followed," Cathay Pacific spokesperson Charlie Stewart-Cox said.

The Boeing 747-400 freighter remained airborne for about an hour during this period, airport sources said.

Cathay Pacific cargo flight -- CX 37 -- took off from the Indira Gandhi International airport here around 1540 hours for London but it returned within an hour at 1641 hours under full-emergency, sources said.