Norwegian Air Shuttle Survives Bird Strike at Aalborg

AeroInside reports that a Norwegian Air Shuttle B737-800 endured bird strikes to both engines on Wednesday, during a flight from Copenhagen to Aalborg in North Jutland (Denmark), and went on to make a safe landing.

According to facts gathered by the Aviation Incidents and Accidents site:

“Norwegian Air Shuttle Boeing 737-800, registration LN-NGE performing flight DY-3082 from Copenhagen to Aalborg (Denmark), was on approach to Aalborg’s runway 08L when the aircraft flew through a flock of birds ingesting birds into both engines (CFM56), both of which continued to deliver normal thrust. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on runway 08L.”

The only repercussion, in this case, was the cancellation of the return flight DY-3083, and the 10 hours of maintenance on the ground before the aircraft was returned to service.

AeroInside confirmed the incident with the carrier, which issued a statement calling for Aalborg Airport to look into better bird deterrence on the runways, saying: “Birdstrikes are critical especially when both engines are hit as in this case.”

Aalborg Airport (AAL) is Denmark’s third largest airport, and the principle airport serving the northernmost region of the Jutland peninsula. It’s located a reasonable biking distance (6 km) from the city centre, and offers travellers free parking.

The airport serves Copenhagen domestically, and has a number of direct flights to Nordic and holiday locations, including: Amsterdam, Alicante, Barcelona, the Canary Islands, Frankfurt, Istanbul, London, Malaga, Mallorca, Nice, Oslo, Reykjavik, Stockholm, and Tenerife.  Seasonal chartered flights are also available to an assortment of popular destinations.

The natural reserves surrounding the industrial and university city of Aalborg are sanctuaries for thousands of migratory waterfowl including ducks, curlews, light bellied brent geese, and large concentrations of white swans throughout the year.

It’s hard to imagine running flock of birds with both engines ingesting, and coming out of it on the other side without a major incident.  But the B373-800’s engines, thankfully, were up to the test.