A flock of unfortunate Canada geese are thought to have crossed paths with a U.S. Airways Airbus A320 yesterday afternoon, causing the plane to make an emergency splash landing in the Hudson River. All 155 passengers survived with no serious injuries, but the incident is highlighting the problem of birds striking aircraft, which experts say is common but rarely dangerous.
Since 2000, at least 486 commercial aircraft have collided with birds, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Of those incidents, 166 led to emergency landings and 66 resulted in aborted takeoffs [The New York Times].
Just seconds after take-off from LaGuardia airport, the pilot of the U.S. Airways plane reported a "double bird strike" that damaged both engines. Such collisions are most common at low altitudes and
the birds most likely to be sucked into aircraft engines are waterfowl, gulls, and raptors. Canada geese, a frequent visitor to golf courses ...
