What happened
On October 4, 2016, an Embraer E170 operating a commercial flight was involved in a bird strike while operating at Warsaw Chopin Airport (EPWA). During the flight, a bird struck the fuselage of the aircraft, specifically impacting the area beneath the captain's cockpit window. There were no injuries to the crew or passengers, and the aircraft landed safely.
The investigation
Following the incident, a special inspection of the aircraft was conducted upon landing. The technical examination revealed no structural damage to the airframe, noting only the visible impact marks from the collision. The investigation determined that the prevailing meteorological conditions at the time of the event did not contribute to the occurrence.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the presence of a bird on the aircraft's flight path.
Safety action
In response to increased bird activity, the operator implemented several preventive measures, including:
- Increased inspections of the airport maneuvering area.
- Monitoring of local pigeon populations near the airfield.
- Adjustments to the settings of the BirdGard stationary bird deterrent system.
- Enhanced inspections of the airport perimeter fencing.
- Targeted removal of wildlife posing a threat to flight safety.