What happened
On September 30, 2016, a Boeing 737-800 crew reported a potential bird strike to air traffic control shortly after departing from runway 26 at Warsaw Modlin Airport (EPMO). Following the report, airport personnel conducted an inspection of the runway but were unable to locate any bird remains or debris.
Upon the aircraft's arrival at its destination, a post-flight inspection revealed that bird remains were indeed present inside the left engine. While the specific species of the bird could not be identified, the discovery necessitated a detailed technical inspection of the engine. Although the inspection confirmed no structural or mechanical damage, the required maintenance procedures resulted in a flight delay.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the airport management, focused on the sequence of events from takeoff to the discovery of the remains. The inquiry examined the runway inspection results and the subsequent engine inspection findings to determine the impact of the event on the aircraft's airworthiness.