A Spicejet Boeing 737-800, registration VT-SGK performing flight SG-622 from Surat to Delhi (India) with 140 passengers and 6 crew, was accelerating for takeoff from Surat Gujarat's runway 04 in darkness at 19:06L (13:36Z) when three stray buffalos entered the runway. One of the buffalos was hit by the aircraft's left hand engine (CFM56), the crew rejected takeoff at about 80 knots after the collision and brought the aircraft to a safe stop about abeam the airport terminal, half way down the runway. The passengers disembarked onto the runway via stairs and were taken to the terminal. No injuries occured to humans, the buffalo was killed, the aircraft sustained substantial damage to left hand engine and left hand fuselage including damage to a static port and punctures to the fuselage skin.
A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration VT-SPK positioned to Surat and reached Delhi with a delay of 4.5 hours.
The airline confirmed their aircraft collided with a buffalo that had entered the aerodrome through a hole in the airport fence. The buffalo was invisible against the dark background. The airline suspended operations to Surat Gujarat as result of the accident.
India's Ministry of Civil Aviation have ordered an investigation into the occurrence and a review of all airports in India to ensure that such an occurrence does not re-occur. The Airport Authority of India have received order to dispatch review teams to all airports within a month to check the safety of aerodromes and take remedial action to any such safety concern within three months.
