Event Overview
On March 31, 2015, at Warsaw Chopin Airport (EPWA), the crew of a Boeing 737-8Z9 W (B738) reported a possible bird strike after landing on runway 33. The report was made during taxi to parking position 46R. The airport duty officer (DOP) conducted a runway inspection, but no animal remains were found. No damage was observed on the aircraft.
Sequence of Events (UTC)
- 19:07:10 - Tower controller instructed the B738 crew to vacate runway 33 via taxiway S2 and contact ground control.
- 19:08:50 - An Embraer 170 (E170) crew received clearance to land on runway 33 and vacate via S2.
- 19:09:03 - The B738 crew reported to ground control a possible bird strike in the final touchdown zone.
- 19:09:10 - An Embraer 190 (E190) crew received clearance to hold on runway 29.
- 19:09:30 - The senior tower controller called the duty officer and requested a runway inspection for runway 33.
- 19:09:50 - The tower controller informed the E170 crew of the reported bird strike and asked for their decision; they continued the approach.
- 19:10:24 - Tower coordinated with approach control to delay the E170 pending runway inspection.
- 19:11:04 - The E190 received takeoff clearance from runway 29.
- 19:11:13 - DOP5 reported at position 44 ready to inspect runway 33.
- 19:11:14 - Approach control asked tower how long the inspection would take; tower replied that DOP had just departed.
- 19:11:23 - Tower instructed DOP5 to hold short of runway 29.
- 19:11:43 - The duty officer called tower to confirm which aircraft reported the strike; learned it was B738, which had taxied to stand 46R.
- 19:11:46 - DOP5 received clearance to cross runway 29, proceed via taxiway T to runway 33, then to taxiway H.
- 19:12:08 - Tower informed DOP5 that the incident occurred near taxiway H in the touchdown zone.
- 19:12:29 - Tower advised approach control that DOP5 had entered runway 33 and coordinated the E170.
- 19:13:14 - DOP5 reported the runway clear up to taxiway H and requested to check the remaining length; tower approved.
- 19:15:46 - DOP5 reported the runway clear and vacated via S2, then checked the taxi route taken by B738 to stand 46R.
- 19:16:04 - The E170 crew continued their ILS approach to runway 33.
- 19:17:05 - DOP5 confirmed leaving runway 33 and that it was clear.
- 19:18:31 - The E170 crew received landing clearance.
Findings
- The B738 crew reported a possible bird strike after landing, while taxiing to stand 46R.
- The tower controller informed the approaching E170 crew, who acknowledged and continued the approach.
- The runway inspection by DOP5 found no animal remains, and no evidence of a bird strike was found.
- The description of the event in the initial notification was imprecise, noting that the E170 was cleared to land before the bird strike report was made, but the controller's actions were in accordance with standard procedures (INOP WARSZAWA TWR section 3.6).
- The tower controller held valid licenses and medical certificates.
Cause
No cause was determined. The event was not classified as an incident, and no errors in air traffic management were identified.
Safety Recommendations
None were formulated by the investigation commission.