admin A United civil aircraft take off for Miami had to return to Chicago on Friday after striking a bird, The Aviation Department said. According to United, the bird strike happened just after the take-off of the aircraft from O’Hare International Airport. The pilot declared an emergency in a radio transmission to the air-traffic controller. Flight 1930, a Boeing 737-900 returned to the airport safely and the passenger deplaned at the gate. After that the passenger boarded another plane, United said in a statement.
No other details were provided by United Airlines on this incident, but a spokeswoman for the Chicago Department of Aviation said a “stand-by alert” was issued for Flight 1930 at 11:14 a.m. The Chicago Department of Aviation said the situation was in under control about 15 minutes later.
Some people witnessed the striking incident. They mentioned that they heard the pops and cracks and saw flames shooting from the left engine. People said it was a shock to see as they had never seen anything like that before. Some tried to record the incident but it wasn’t possible for them as it happened at a sudden moment. Witnesses are grateful the crew and passengers are safe.
“We do see smoke and fire coming out of the left,” a pilot on another flight told an air traffic controller in a radio transmission. The FAA said it would investigate the incident.
Bird strikes on passenger aircraft have generally been increasing over the years, although the number differs each year. Over half of the bird strikes happens from July to October when young bird emerge from the nest or when fall migration occurs, reported by FAA.
According to a Federal Aviation Administration report, aircraft also stuck bats, reptiles, and other terrestrial mammals which damage aircraft brutally. Of all the bird strikes last year, 648 caused damage to the aircraft.
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