Incident Overview
On 23 September 2016, an Embraer 190 aircraft departed from runway 25 at Kraków Airport (EPKK). Shortly after takeoff, the flight crew reported to air traffic control a suspected bird strike in the central part of the aircraft. The airport operations officer conducted an inspection of the runway and discovered a dead white wagtail (Motacilla alba), which was removed and disposed of according to standard procedures. The information was relayed to the flight crew via approach control, and the flight continued without incident.
Investigation
The investigation was overseen by Edward Łojek, with the airport operator serving as the investigating body. No investigation team was appointed. The report was issued on 17 October 2016. The bird remains were identified by a specialist as a white wagtail.
Cause
The probable cause of the incident was the presence of a bird on the takeoff path of the aircraft. No safety recommendations were formulated.
Preventive Measures
The airport employs several measures to mitigate wildlife hazards, as outlined in its Operational Instruction (INOP) Part E, Chapter 17. These include habitat management to reduce attractiveness for feeding and nesting, such as removing trees, water bodies, and waste sites, and maintaining grassy areas. For certain bird species, population control is implemented through falconry, hunting dogs, acoustic devices, and culling. For domestic and synanthropic species, efforts focus on eliminating pigeon breeding and advising property owners to limit protective behaviors for storks and swallows. The primary method for reducing bird numbers is biological control using birds of prey and a hunting dog, operated by a specialized contractor.
Additional Observations
In 2016, the airport reported an increased presence of white wagtails compared to previous years. During the third quarter, seven collisions between aircraft and this species were recorded. Due to the bird's low mass and non-flocking behavior, the risk of aircraft damage is considered low. In response to the probable cause, the airport operator considered applying insecticide if excessive insect presence on the runway is detected.