Patna, June 1: Passengers of a Mumbai-bound Jet Airways flight were stranded at the airport for more than seven hours today after the pilot suspected that the plane had been hit by a bird.

Jet Airways official said as soon as their flight S2271 landed at Patna airport, its pilot suspected a bird had hit its engine. A technical inspection of the aircraft was immediately done.

Sources said on examination, the engine of the plane was found to be damaged. However, the source of damage could not be ascertained.

“The aircraft — a Boeing 737 model — flies on the Mumbai-Ranchi-Patna route. It took off from Mumbai airport at 5.40am and reached Patna airport at 9.30am. The flight was scheduled to depart for Mumbai at 10.10am but the pilot suspected that a bird had hit the engine. The plane finally took off around 5.30pm after an inspection,” said an official of Jet Airways.

Around 100 passengers were expected to board the flight for Mumbai.

Patna airport authorities claimed that there was no emergency landing and various factors around the airport premises are responsible for bird-related issues.

“Such bird hits are common at most airports across the world. Various meat shops and uncontrolled growth of trees around Patna airport creates a conducive environment for habitation of birds. A body called Airport Environment Committee, Patna, headed by the district commissioner looks after such issues,” said Arvind Dubey, director, Patna Airport Authority.

Passengers of the flight were an unhappy lot.

“We had to reach Mumbai by 12.30pm but the airlines officials have told us that the flight would take off only after the aircraft is inspected by engineers, who are supposed to come from Delhi. Although the airline officials have assured us that the flight would take off by 2.30pm, I believe it will take longer,” said Amit Chaudhuri, a Ranchi-based businessman, who had come to Patna on the same flight.

He added: “If some parts of the aircraft have been damaged, then those have to be brought from Delhi. This could take hours. I had an important meeting in Mumbai today, which I do not think I will be able to attend.”

The long wait resulted in a temporary ruckus at the time of take-off, said an airport official.