Air carrier flight crew reported a bird strike during approach which resulted in a strong odor throughout the aircraft. The flight crew completed a safe landing with the ground personnel providing appropriate support.
Synopsis
Air carrier flight crew reported a bird strike during approach which resulted in a strong odor throughout the aircraft. The flight crew completed a safe landing with the ground personnel providing appropriate support.
Narrative
While descending into ZZZ on the ZZZZZ RNAV STAR in the vicinity of ZZZZZ1 intersection at 11;000 ft.; I was startled by the noise of a very loud bang. I immediately looked at the engine instruments and all was normal. I stated to the First Officer (FO) that I thought we may have hit a bird and he agreed with my assessment. I contacted the cabin crew to get their input. Both forward flight attendants (FA) heard the noise but didn't know what it was. The aft flight attendants did not hear the noise. After hanging up the interphone; I began to smell a noxious odor. The flight attendants called me back to report a noxious smell throughout the entire aircraft. I actioned the [smoke and fumes] QRC immediate action items and both the first officer and I donned our full face oxygen masks. I requested priority handling with ATC and was given priority for landing. Since we had already briefed the approach to Runway XXL; I elected to continue to that runway even though it was the shortest runway given that we had no mechanical issues and it would allow us to get the airplane on the ground the quickest. I sent an ACARS message to dispatch informing them of the situation. I then called the flight attendants and gave them a standard briefing informing them of the situation. I continued running the QRC while the first officer flew the airplane and communicated with ATC. We completed the first steps and abandoned the checklist after ATC cleared us for the approach and I felt my attention was better focused on backing up the FO and monitoring the approach and landing. After clearing the runway; Airport Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) inspected our aircraft. After speaking with them; I felt it was safe to continue to the gate. A flight attendant called to report that a passenger was experiencing sickness and had vomited as a result of the smell. I asked if the passenger needed EMTs to meet us. The flight attendant informed me the passenger declined medical treatment. Upon arrival at the gate; we completed the required maintenance reports and flight operations contacts. Upon external inspection the remains of a large bird was observed forward of the nose wheelwell and throughout the right engine.
Second reporter narrative
While on the ZZZZZ arrival into ZZZ; we were level crossing ZZZZZ1 at 11;000 ft. and 300 kts; we hit a large brown bird. For about just a flash; I saw a large Brown/blackish bird in-front of the aircraft and go under us. It hit underneath the nose and made a loud bang. I didn't think it went toward the engine; but a few seconds after the hit; we smelled a burnt odor. We knew that it must have gone through an engine. We scanned the engine instruments and everything was normal. Because the odor got worse and was reported by the flight attendants (FA) as well; we completed the [smoke and fumes] checklist. As part of the checklist we put on the O2 masks. This caused difficulty through out the rest of the flight. After completing the Immediate action items; I continued to fly and talk to ATC; while the Captain (CA) handled the situation with dispatch; the FAs. We continued the arrival and were given priority for the approach to XXL. After landing; the Airport Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) only found a mark on the nose with no other damage. The odor remained in the aircraft even after getting parked at the gate.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.