An Airblue flight, PA 171, from Jeddah to Karachi, experienced a bird strike as it approached its landing near Model Colony, Karachi.
According to the initial reports, the bird hit the aircraft’s windscreen, but it did not harm passengers or crew. Despite this, the pilot landed at Karachi airport and secured the aircraft safely.
Further assessments are planned to evaluate any potential damage to the plane.
On a related note, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) reported 38 incidents of bird strikes during the first six months of the year across domestic and international routes. These incidents primarily affected Airbus A320s and Boeing 777s, with 31 and 3 instances occurring at airports in Lahore, Islamabad, Multan, Faisalabad, Gilgit, Sukkur, Jeddah, and Dubai.
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Most of these bird strikes took place during the takeoff, landing, or approach phases of the flight. Notably, Lahore Airport recorded the highest number of incidents, with 14 bird strikes, followed by Islamabad with seven and Multan with four.
These events have highlighted ongoing concerns about bird presence at airports, exacerbated by some alleging administrative negligence by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in failing to install advanced bird deterrent systems.
Bird strikes pose a significant safety risk in aviation. They can lead to minor to severe aircraft damage, including engine failure or structural damage, which can endanger lives. Consequently, aviation authorities globally are intensifying efforts to implement safety measures such as habitat management and bird deterrent systems at airports to mitigate these risks.
