What happened
While on a visual approach to runway 19R at the Kansas City International Airport, the crew of the aircraft encountered a large flock of snow geese. The birds emerged into the aircraft's lights from below, engulfing the plane. While no birds struck the windshields, it was immediately apparent that the birds had entered both engines.
Following the impact, the captain advanced power on both engines and instructed the first officer to reset the flaps to the 30-degree single-engine position. The number one engine experienced a continuous compressor stall, while the number two engine dropped to a sub-idle run condition. To manage the situation, the captain reduced power on the number one engine to mitigate the surge and stall frequency to approximately once every two seconds, providing just enough thrust to maintain the approach and reduce vibration. The aircraft completed a normal touchdown on the runway.
The investigation
Post-flight examination of the aircraft revealed bird remains and substantial damage to both engines. No other mechanical anomalies were identified during the inspection.