An airplane in Surat, India, was hurtling down the runway on its takeoff roll when it collided with a stray buffalo.
The operator of the Boeing 737-800, Spicejet, said the animal was “essentially invisible against a black background” and impossible for the pilot to see.
No one was hurt, and the plane remained on the ground with damage. Passengers were loaded into another jet and sent on their way to Delhi.
The airline released a statement acknowledging that “stray animals are a growing menace in some airports.”
The BBC reports the tone changed as the message continued. "This incident has affected our regular operations, and hence SpiceJet flights from Surat will now be suspended indefinitely."
Chief Operating Officer Sanjiv Kapoor called security at Surat airport lax, saying "a buffalo on the runway" was "simply inexcusable."
The company is India’s fourth-largest air carrier.
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