It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane

When U.S. Airways Flight 1549 emergency landed into the Hudson River on January 15, the pilot’s exceptional handling of the aircraft ensured that all passengers survived. While the investigation into the cause of the crash will take time, initial reports and the pilot’s communication prior to the crash indicate that bird strikes – most likely geese – were responsible for the incident.

Bird strikes are not unusual. The Bird Strike Committee USA, which tracks strikes and recommends measures to minimize hazards for both birds and aircraft, estimates that as many as 18,000 bird strikes occur annually causing hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to aircraft. In general, large birds such as geese and gulls pose a greater threat, but thick flocks of small birds can be equally dangerous.

For more information about aircraft bird strikes, visit BirdStrike.org.