What happened
On September 23, 2016, the crew of an Embraer 190 departed from runway 25 at the EPKK aerodrome. Shortly after takeoff, the flight crew notified air traffic control of a possible bird strike occurring in the middle section of the aircraft. Following this report, the airport duty officer conducted an inspection of the runway surface. During the inspection, the officer located and removed the remains of a dead bird, identified as a white wagtail (Motacilla alba). The information regarding the discovery was relayed to the crew via approach control, and the flight continued without further incident or damage.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the presence of the bird on the runway and the subsequent inspection procedures. The airport management confirmed that the remains were identified by a specialist and disposed of according to standard operating procedures. The investigation also reviewed the effectiveness of existing wildlife management strategies at the airport, including habitat management, acoustic deterrents, and biological controls such as falconry and hunting dogs.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the presence of a bird on the takeoff path of the aircraft.
- There was a noted increase in the presence of white wagtails at the airport during 2016, with seven collisions involving this species recorded in the third quarter of the year.
- While the risk of structural damage from this specific species is considered low due to their small mass and non-flocking behavior, their presence on the runway remains a factor in takeoff safety.