An IndiGo passenger flight was briefly forced to halt while taxiing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after pilots spotted two foxes near the taxiway, renewing concerns over wildlife intrusion and operational safety at Bangladesh’s busiest aviation hub.

The unusual wildlife encounter occurred on Wednesday shortly after the Delhi-origin IndiGo flight landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and began taxiing toward the terminal, according to airport officials and cockpit communications captured on video.

Video footage, later shared by Royal Bengal Aviation, shows the IndiGo cockpit informing the control tower that a fox had been spotted approximately 30 feet off the aircraft’s right side in the grass adjacent to the taxiway.

“Sir, we can see a fox on the right side of the aircraft… we are holding position,” the cockpit was heard telling air traffic controllers.

Moments later, the crew reported a second animal crossing from left to right, with both foxes eventually observed about 100 feet ahead of the aircraft’s taxi path—prompting the pilots to maintain their hold position as a precaution.

Air traffic control immediately dispatched ground personnel and a vehicle to inspect the area, while the aircraft remained stationary on the taxiway.

In subsequent radio exchanges, the cockpit informed the tower that the animals appeared to be hiding in the grass roughly 50 feet from the responding vehicle, suggesting the possible presence of a burrow or ground opening near the movement area.

Ground responders, however, initially failed to locate the animals, reportedly recovering only a green plastic sheet from near the aircraft’s right side.

After confirming the taxiway was clear, air traffic control cleared the IndiGo flight to resume taxiing to the terminal. Airport sources said the interruption lasted roughly one minute.

A senior official at the airport confirmed the incident, while Executive Director of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) S M Ragib Samad said he had not yet received an official report, though he acknowledged the presence of wildlife within the airport perimeter.

The incident has once again drawn attention to wildlife hazard management at HSIA, where aviation experts said even small animals near runways or taxiways can pose serious risks to aircraft, particularly during low-visibility operations or nighttime ground movements.

With traffic volumes expected to rise further following the phased opening of the airport’s new terminal, industry observers said strengthened perimeter surveillance, habitat control, and wildlife management protocols are becoming increasingly critical to ensuring safe airside operations.