What is a bird strike?
A bird strike is an accidental collision between an airborne animal and an aircraft. The strike usually involves birds, but may sometimes include other animals like bats, rodents, and even reptiles. Bird strikes can occur anywhere, but usually they happen close enough to airports to pose a safety risk.
Potential Damage of Bird Strike
A bird strike can cause serious damage to an aircraft and can potentially put lives at risk. A large enough bird can cause significant damage to an airplane´s structure, engines, and flight-control systems. It can also lead to an engine failure or fire that can put pilot and passengers in danger.
Southwest Flight Emergency Landing
On April 8, 2021, a Southwest Airlines flight had to make an emergency landing due to a bird strike. The Boeing 737-700 had just taken off from Dallas Love Field when it was struck by a flock of geese. The bird strike caused damage to the left engine, leading to a loss of power and an emergency landing.
Passenger Safety
Fortunately, the plane was able to make a safe emergency landing without any injuries to passengers or crew. It was later determined that the bird strike had caused minor damage to the engine and other minor damage to the fuselage.
Conclusion
Bird strikes can cause serious consequences, so it is important to be aware of the risk they pose. Southwest Airlines was able to safely handle the bird strike emergency and the plane landed without any serious damage or injuries to the passengers or crew onboard.
