Captain Bilal Chughtai – about to land a PIA ATR-72 on that cold December evening at Islamabad – was ready for landing. Suddenly a swarm of birds appeared right in front of the cockpit. According to Captain Bilal, he didn’t know how they had survived, that Allah saved them. There are many incidents of plane crashes due to bird strike.
He describes the incident as nothing short of a miracle. The aircraft, carrying 60 passengers, narrowly escaped disaster as birds flew past from all directions—above, below, left, and right. Captain Bilal told a news channel, “If even one bird had gone into the engine, it would have destroyed it.”
Captain Bilal has been flying for over 20 years with varied experience, flying Fokker, Boeing 737, 777, ATR, and Airbus 320. He says bird strikes are all too common.
On Dec. 29, 2024, this became a sadly fatal phenomenon when a Boeing 737-800 private airline crashed on landing at Muan International Airport, South Korea. It involved 179 victims: passengers and crew.
Investigation Results
The preliminary view was that both adverse weather conditions and bird strike caused the crash. Muan Fire Department Chief Lee Jeong-hyun said the aircraft’s right engine had failed after a bird strike, causing catastrophic pressure changes in the cockpit.
Shortly before the crash, a passenger texted their family, stating, “There’s a bird stuck in the wing, and the plane can’t land.” Unfortunately the aircraft skidded into a wall on landing and a huge explosion was triggered.
However, how can a small bird be able to crash a multi million dollar airplane with high level safety features in it? In this article, the science of bird strikes is explored, the dangers bird strikes create, and the ways the bird strikes are prevented are covered.
What Is a Bird Strike?
Bird strike happens when a bird hits an aircraft. Such is usually due to takeoff and landing respectively, when the aircraft is flying at lower altitudes. Bird strikes are not uncommon globally — migratory birds are the usual culprits.
Last year, according to the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority, more than 1,400 bird strikes were logged, of which 100 affected aircraft seriously.
In Pakistan, bird strikes are also prevalent. Former airport manager and aviation consultant Ubaid-ur-Rehman Abbasi shared that in 2024, Islamabad reported 26 bird strikes, Lahore 50, and Karachi 45.
Why Are Bird Strikes Dangerous?
But the severity of a bird strike also depends, among other things, on the size of the bird and the point of impact; worst strikes are usually those involving large geese or the largest of seabirds, and those that hit the very noses of small aircraft.
Aviator Captain Qasim explained that the speed at which the pilot is flying is a variable, no pilot can avoid bird collision especially when flying at high speeds. ” It’s all about where the bird hits.”
He elaborates that while landing with a failed engine is manageable, a bird strike during takeoff can be catastrophic, especially if both engines fail. “Jet engines are designed to pull in air at high speed to generate thrust, but this also means they can suck in nearby birds,” he says.
The most dangerous scenarios involve a bird entering the engine or striking the windshield. An engine strike can damage the fan blades, disrupt hydraulic systems, and cause engine failure, while a heavy bird, like a vulture, striking the windshield can shatter it.
The Science Behind Bird Strikes
Aircraft engines undergo rigorous testing to withstand bird strikes. Companies like Boeing and Airbus simulate bird strikes by firing dead chickens into engines at high speeds. However, even with such precautions, engines remain vulnerable.
Professor Doug Drury, an aviation expert at CQ University in Australia, explains that turbofan engines use rotating blades to compress air and generate thrust. A bird strike can damage these blades, leading to engine shutdown.
Preventing Bird Strikes
Efforts to mitigate bird strikes include:
- Airport Wildlife Management: They also employ teams of people at airports to manage bird populations—by using scare tactics, relocating nests, or the more serious deployment of trained falcons to keep them away.
- Flight Crew Training: Pilots are encouraged to stay sharp in the morning and the evening, when bird activity is often highest. One of the lights on the aircraft is also kept on in order to prevent a collision.
- Regular Inspections: Bird strikes are detected on aircraft by thorough fore and after flight inspections.
These measures did not prevent bird strikes, however. In 2009 an Airbus A320 safely landed on the Hudson river with both engines having failed because they were hit by birds illustrating the importance of pilot talent.
The Role of Luck and Design
“An aircraft is as delicate as a human tooth,” says Ubaid-ur-Rehman. Even the slightest dent from a bird strike can ground a plane until repairs are made. Modern aircraft are designed to minimize damage; their rounded shapes help deflect objects, including birds, on impact.
However, accidents like the one at Muan Airport serve as a grim reminder of the dangers posed by bird strikes. With increasing air traffic and urbanization encroaching on bird habitats, the challenge of preventing bird strikes will only grow.
Final Words
While technology and training have significantly reduced the risks associated with bird strikes, these incidents underscore the delicate balance between human innovation and nature. Aviation experts continue to innovate, but as Captain Qasim puts it, “Sometimes, it’s a game of fate and nature.”
Birds may be small, but their impact on aviation is noticeable.
