Bird Strike: Etihad Aircraft Flies Back After Take-Off, Delays By 5 Hours (Photo on X@etihad)
An Etihad aircraft flew back to run-way shortly after take-off from the Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), causing a five-hour delay in its scheduled times. The EY395 aircraft, which was affected by the bird strike has since departed Sri Lanka and arrived at Abud Dhabi airport with all the passengers on board, after a throughout inspection, Khaleej Times reported, citing a spokesperson.
The flight was originally scheduled to land in Abu Dhabi at 7.45 am, but the delay due to the bird strike, led the aircraft to arrive at 12.40 pm, causing nearly a five-hour delay. The airline has apologised to the passengers for the disruption, and the Ground teams were reportedly helping the passengers with travel arrangements, the airline stated.
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- Bird strike is a considerable threat to flights in the sky, and it rarely occurs at higher altitudes. The event mostly occurs during the take-off and landing phases as more birds will be flying at the lower altitude. However, the airline advised the passengers to contact the airline through local phone numbers, live chat and social media in case of any queries. The airline also stressed that the safety and comfort of guests is a priority.
In another bird strike incident on May 20, an Emirates Dubai-Mumbai aircraft hit a flock of flamingos about 300 metres (1,000ft) above the ground. However, the aircraft landed safely with minor damage, and all passengers and crew disembarked without injury.
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According to the Federal Aviation Administration, more than 14,000 bird strikes are reported each year in the United States alone, and over 1,500 bird strikes in the United Kingdom in a year.
The bird strike sometime can cause shutting down an engine, and the impact of the phenomenon can vary depending on many factors including the type of airline.
