The recent Boeing plane crash in South Korea, which claimed the lives of 179 people, has brought renewed attention to bird collisions—a persistent hazard for the aviation industry worldwide.
While officials initially pointed to a bird strike as a likely cause of the Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crash, investigations are ongoing. Seoul has announced a special inspection of all 101 Boeing 737-800 aircraft operating in South Korea.
Rising Incidents Amid Growing Air Traffic
Bird collisions, also known as bird strikes, are becoming more frequent as global air traffic increases. In the United States alone, 17,190 bird strikes were reported in 2022, marking a 10% increase from 2021, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Since 1988, bird strikes have led to the destruction of 250 aircraft globally, resulting in 262 fatalities, according to the Australian Aviation Wildlife Hazard Group. These incidents also cause over $1.2 billion in annual damages.
The majority of collisions occur at lower altitudes—usually during takeoff and landing—where aircraft are most vulnerable. While higher-altitude strikes are less common, they are not unheard of.
Famous Incidents and Safety Measures
One of the most well-known bird strike incidents occurred in January 2009 when a US Airways Airbus A320 struck a flock of geese shortly after takeoff, forcing pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger to execute an emergency landing on the Hudson River in New York.
Airports and manufacturers have implemented extensive measures to mitigate these risks. Stress tests on engines, which involve firing dead birds into them, are standard. Airports also employ strategies like broadcasting bird distress calls and using noise devices to scare birds away.
How Bird Collisions Impact Aircraft
In most cases, bird strikes cause only minor damage, such as dents or fuselage impacts. However, if birds are ingested into an engine, the consequences can be severe. Damage to engine compressors can lead to malfunctions or complete engine failure.
Aviation safety experts emphasize that modern aircraft are designed to handle such scenarios. “If one engine fails, the second is designed to compensate,” explained a former investigator from France’s Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA). Simultaneous failure of both engines due to bird strikes is exceedingly rare.
A Growing Challenge for Aviation
As air travel continues to rebound post-pandemic, aviation authorities must remain vigilant in addressing the risks posed by bird collisions. With proper safety measures and awareness, the industry aims to reduce the frequency and severity of these incidents while maintaining passenger safety as a top priority.