What happened
On October 2, 2016, the crew of an Airbus 319 reported a potential bird strike to the Tower controller shortly after departing from runway 25 at EPKK. Following the report, the airport operator conducted an inspection of the runway area. During the inspection, bird remains (feathers) were discovered near taxiway C. A falconer subsequently identified the remains as belonging to a common kestrel (*Falco tinnunculus*).
The investigation
The investigation examined the airport's wildlife management procedures and recent activity. The airport operator confirmed that inspections had been conducted on the morning of the incident (between 07:30 and 08:10) and had not revealed significant bird activity. The investigation also reviewed the effectiveness of existing deterrents, including the use of a falconry service and a hunting dog, which are active between 07:00 and 17:00 LMT.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the presence of a bird on the takeoff path of the aircraft.
- The presence of kestrels in the airport vicinity is likely driven by the availability of small mammals (rodents) on the airport's grassy surfaces.
- Data from the third quarter of 2016 indicated a high frequency of similar incidents, with six recorded collisions involving the kestrel species during that period.
- The investigation noted that the falconry method had shown limited effectiveness in deterring kestrels specifically.
Safety action
Following a risk assessment, the airport management planned to implement rodent control measures (the use of rodenticides) on the airport's grassy areas starting in 2017 to reduce the food source for birds.