Birdstrike Incident Involving Boeing 737-8HX LV-KGN at Gobernador Guzmán Airport

Incident Overview and Investigation Scope On 30 November 2024 at 15:40 UTC, a birdstrike incident occurred during the landing phase of a scheduled commercial passenger flight at Gobernador Guzmán Airport in the province of Jujuy, Argentina. The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737-8HX with registration LV-KGN, operated by FB Líneas Aéreas S.A. The investigation was conducted as a desk investigation by the Junta de Seguridad en el Transporte (JST), Argentina's transport safety board, and was classified as an incident under the BIRD (Birdstrike) category. ## Flight Details and Operational Context The flight departed from Aeroparque Jorge Newbery Airport (SABE/AEP) in Buenos Aires and was destined for Gobernador Guzmán Airport (SASJ/JUJ) in Jujuy. The total flight duration was recorded as 2.3 hours. The pilot-in-command was a 58-year-old male holding an airline transport pilot license, and the co-pilot was a 35-year-old male. The operation was classified as commercial air transport, passenger, airline, and scheduled. ## Birdstrike Event and Immediate Response During the landing phase, the flight crew observed a medium-sized bird crossing the aircraft's trajectory, passing close to the fuselage, and heading toward one of the engines. After touchdown, the activation of the thrust reversers indicated an N1 value of 88.1% with normal parameters, which allowed the crew to rule out the possibility of ingestion into the engine core. ## Post-Landing Inspections and Findings After clearing the runway, the crew notified the control tower, which coordinated an inspection of the maneuvering area with the aerodrome operator. This inspection confirmed the presence of feathers on the right edge of the runway. The flight crew then conducted a visual inspection of the aircraft and identified a set of feathers inside the engine cowl, on the guide fan blades, and on the cowl strut support, along with impact marks on the outer fan cowl frame. No damage was evidenced on any of these components. ## Technical Inspection and Return to Service The airline was subsequently informed so that technical personnel could perform the necessary checks. After completing the technical inspection without finding any additional evidence or damage to the aircraft, the aircraft was returned to service. The investigation noted no damage to the aircraft and no injuries to personnel.