The US Department of Agriculture maintains a database of accidents and occurrences involving wildlife and airplanes. The FAA reports over 82,057 strike reports from 1,418 airports in the United States and 207 foreign airports from January 1990 through December 2007. They estimate that this represents only about 20% of the strikes that have occurred.
The FAA has recently published an online tome (108 pages) of recorded incidents from 1990 to 2008. Most incidents involve birds, although animals such as rabbits, deer and even moose are included in the report. Human fatalities do occur but are rare. Note that the term for a bird being sucked in and killed in an engine is ingested.
With too many to list, here are a few of the incidents with animals and airlines taken from the report Some Significant Wildlife Strikes to Civil Aircraft in the United States, January 1990 – September 2008 (identification of the type of bird involved is by the Smithsonian, Division of Birds):
- 20 June 2008
Aircraft - B747-400
Airport - Chicago O’Hare International
Occurred during takeoff, resulted in precautionary landing
Damage - Engine
Bird - Red-tailed hawk
Comments from Report - Hawk ingested during takeoff. The flight continued to climb to dump 165,000 lbs of fuel ($100,000) then returned to the airport with one engine out. Damaged engine was repaired. Thirty hours of labor to repair. -
22 November 2007
Aircraft - B767-300 Airport - Nice Cote d'Azur (France) Occurred during ascent, resulted in precautionary landing
Damage - Engine, wing, tail
Bird - Yellow-legged gull
Comments from Report - A flock of gulls was seen during takeoff. Shortly after, the crew felt multiple strikes and vibrations and returned to the airport. The engine was replaced. Time out of service was 12 days. Cost of repairs was a staggering $8,925,000 and other cost was $196,000. (US carrier) -
22 March 2006
Aircraft - Airbus 319
Airport - General Mitchell International (WI)
Occurred during final approach, resulted in engine shut down. Damage - Engine
Bird - Canada goose
Comments from Report - 1 or 2 large birds were ingested. The engine shut down and the pilot declared an emergency. Because it was dark, the pilots did not know they had hit birds. Major damage to the core and the engine was replaced. Cost - $2,675,600. -
24 June 2005
Aircraft - Airbus 310
Airport - Subic Bay (Philippines)
Occurred during takeoff from the runway, resulted in aborted takeoff.
Damage - Engine, cowling, wing
Bird - Philippine duck
Comments from Report - Engine had multiple birdstrikes on takeoff. A loud bang was heard, and pull to right. The engine and cowling were replaced. Time out of service - 4 days. Cost - estimated at $9,456,000. (US carrier) -
4 September 2003
Aircraft - Fokker 100
Airport - LaGuardia Airport (NY)
Occurred during ascent, resulted in engine shut down and an emergency landing.
Damage - Engine, nose, fuselage
Bird - Canada goose
Comments from Report - A flock of geese was struck shortly after takeoff. Engine failure occurred where the plane would neither climb nor accelerate. The flight was diverted to JFK with an uneventful landing. The Captain and First Officer were given awards for their superior airmanship under extremely challenging circumstances. -
6 December 2001
Aircraft - B737
Airport - Detroit Metropolitan Airport(MI)
Occurred during ascent, resulted in a precautionary landing.
Damage - Engine
Bird - Gull
Comments from Report - Plane struck a flock of gulls, ingesting one. Engine failed. The engine was replaced. Cost - estimated at $2.3 million.
2 of the stranger incidents...
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27 September 2007
Aircraft - Eurocopter 130
Airport - Near Meadview, AZ
Occurred while airborne resulted in precautionary landing.
Damage - Windshield
Bird - Golden eagle
Comments from Report - An eagle broke through the pilot’s windshield, hitting a passenger in the head. The pilot and two passengers were injured. Time out of service was three months. Cost - $800,000. -
8 March 2001
Aircraft - Bell 206
Airport - Barnes-Jewish Hospital Helipad (MO)
Occurred during approach with no effect on the flight.
Damage - Windshield
Bird - Duck
Comments from Report - Aircraft was transporting a heart patient to the hospital, when a duck crashed through the windshield. Pilot was injured. The duck ended up in the patient’s lap.
