Aircraft Crashes into Sea After Bird Strike During Initial Climb (N187SA)

Incident Overview and Immediate Aftermath An aircraft encountered a flock of birds while climbing after departing from Contadora Island Airport. During this initial climb phase, the collision resulted in several birds striking the right engine, which subsequently failed. The engine failure caused the aircraft to lose speed and roll to the right, ultimately leading to a crash in the sea approximately 1,500 meters offshore. Rescue efforts recovered two passengers, while 20 other occupants were killed in the incident. ## Official Findings The official investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was the failure of the right engine and the subsequent loss of control during the initial climb, which occurred following the bird strike.