American Airlines jet returns safely to Philadelphia after bird strike

Bird strikes are a known risk in aviation and have led to diversions and emergency landings in the past. FAA data indicates that between 1990 and 2024, there have been more than 310,000 wildlife strikes globally involving aircraft. Most incidents occur near airports during takeoff or landing at low altitudes.

Damage from bird strikes depends on several factors such as bird size and weight as well as aircraft speed. In 2021 alone, U.S. airlines reported approximately $328 million in costs related to wildlife strikes—including repairs and lost operational hours.

Serious accidents involving bird strikes remain rare but can result in fatalities and destroyed aircraft worldwide. From 1990 through 2024, more than 643 deaths have been linked globally to wildlife strikes involving civil or military planes; in the United States specifically, these incidents caused 82 deaths.

One notable example occurred in January 2009 when US Airways flight 1549 landed in New York’s Hudson River after both engines failed due to ingesting birds; all onboard survived. More recent cases include an American Airlines flight returning safely after engine issues following a bird strike last year and other international incidents where damage was sustained but passengers were unharmed.

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