A Hyderabad-bound IndiGo flight had a close shave at Visakhapatnam Airport after hitting a wild boar on take-off.
The animal has strayed ointo the runway but the aircraft was too far advanced in its take-off to abort.
The aircraft, carrying 160 passengers got airborne successfully and then turned around to land again at the airport to assess any damage.
The airbus jet was inspected and given a clean bill of health and was able to resume its journey about three hours later.
"IndiGo flight 6E-742 from Visakhapatnam to Hyderabad struck a wandering wild boar on the runway during take-off. As per the standard operating procedures, the captain immediately reported the matter to the Air Traffic Control," an airline statement said.
"We ensured customer safety at all times."
The airline further said it had already raised the issue of bird and wildlife hazards at the airport.
It has been an eventful few days for the carrier.
It was been forced into two apologies in recent days after firstly a passenger was filmed being violently manhandled by ground staff on the tarmac.
Then last weekend, an elderly passenger was injured after falling out of a wheelchair while being assisted by Indigo staff.
That incident sparked a tit-for-tat war of words with Lucknow airport officials as Indigo blamed the uneven, cracked tarmac surface for the mishap.
