Overview
- Emirates flight EK517 was struck by a bird on arrival at Delhi on Saturday, October 17, and was held on the ground while crews inspected the aircraft.
- The airline confirmed the incident and said the return service from Delhi to Dubai will depart at 07:00 local time on October 18 and that hotel rooms are being provided for passengers.
- Video from the airport shows ground staff examining the plane’s nose cone, but Emirates says the exact extent of any damage is still under engineering assessment before safety clearance.
- Bird strikes are common near airports and can affect critical parts such as engines or windscreens, which is why regulators require mandatory post‑strike inspections before an aircraft may fly again.
- The overnight delay may ripple through Emirates’ schedule for the route and inconveniences passengers who face changed connections and later arrivals in Dubai.