No fatalities

1995-10-22: De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (ET-AIO) — Ethiopian Airlines — Addis Ababa-Bole, Ethiopia

Addis Ababa-Bole, EthiopiaLanding (descent or approach)

On October 22, 1995, a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (registration ET-AIO) operated by Ethiopian Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Addis Ababa-Bole, Ethiopia during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft experienced a loss of control during its final approach due to a bird strike. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781207617Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine aircraft sustained damage after colliding with a large bird during its final approach, resulting in an emergency landing short of the runway.

What happened

During the final approach phase into Addis Ababa-Bole Airport, a twin engine aircraft experienced a significant mid-air collision with a white backed vulture weighing approximately 5.4 kg. The impact was severe enough to shatter the cockpit windshield and cause serious injuries to both pilots on board.

Following the strike, the flight crew attempted an emergency landing procedure. However, the aircraft was unable to reach the runway and crashed approximately 300 metres before the threshold. Despite the impact of the crash, all 20 occupants were successfully rescued from the wreckage. Among those rescued, a total of nine injuries were reported.

Probable cause

The aircraft experienced a loss of control during its final approach due to a bird strike.