Migrant flocks, vanishing wetlands blamed as bird strikes at Mumbai airport double since 2020

A passenger aeroplane takes off from Mumbai airport, which is in the path of the Versova Refuse Transfer Station. File Pic/Satej Shinde

Incidents of bird strikes on aircraft taking off from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) have more than doubled in the last four years, raising serious concerns for aviation safety. Official data reveals that the number of bird strikes rose from 20 in 2020 to 59 in 2024. In just the first six months of 2025, 19 such incidents have already been reported near the Mumbai airport.

More alarmingly, bird strikes at lower altitudes have also increased. In 2024, 41 bird strikes were recorded at altitudes up to 1000 feet, up from 32 in 2023. For higher altitudes (above 1000 feet), 16 incidents occurred in 2024, while 27 were reported in 2023. Mumbai-based birder Avinash Bhagat attributed the rise in high-altitude strikes to shifting migratory patterns. "Migratory birds tend to fly at higher altitudes when travelling long distances, especially in the post-winter months until May," he said.

Data presented by Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL) - the operator of Mumbai airport - showed a dramatic increase in the number of migratory birds in the region. The flamingo population in the Thane Creek area alone has surged from 10,000 in 2015 to over 2 lakh in 2024.

In a meeting on Wednesday with Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Mumbai's Suburban Guardian Minister Ashish Shelar acknowledged the urgency of the situation. "Scientists, environmentalists, and young researchers will be roped in to suggest innovative tech solutions to reduce bird activity near the airport," he said. The BMC was also directed to immediately cover the Versova Refuse Transfer Station, known to attract scavenging birds.

Experts, however, warn that piecemeal fixes won't solve the issue. "The wetlands around Mumbai, which were crucial resting spots for migratory birds, are vanishing. Locations like Uran are gone. As a result, birds are flying longer distances in search of roosting grounds, increasing activity around the airport and at higher altitudes," Bhagat explained.