What happened
Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft encountered a large flock of Canadian geese. The crew reported hearing a series of loud noises, which were immediately followed by the failure of the right engine. Following the engine failure, the airplane performed an emergency landing at a nearby airport.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed damage to the nose, fuselage, and the right engine that was consistent with multiple bird strikes. Specifically, the fan blades of the right engine showed deformation and leading edge impact damage. One fan blade had separated from its root during the encounter.
Furthermore, investigators discovered a hole in the right engine inlet duct. This opening coincided with a penetration in the fuselage located above the aft-most window on the right side of the aircraft. The specific blade that caused the fuselage penetration was not recovered from the scene.