An Air Azores Airbus A320 suffered a bird strike in both engines while departing Ponta Delgada.
Air Azores flight departed Ponta Delgada to Lisbon Thursday, January 2 2025 when an incident occurred during takeoff from runway 12.
The crew stopped the climb at 2,350 ft and required an immediate return after the aircraft (registration CS-TKP) flew through a flock of gulls causing multiple impacts right after rotation.
The flight S4124 returned to PDL Airport only 12 minutes later as both engines were affected and there were vibrations in the cabin.
Cabin crew made announcement of returning to PDL approx 5 minutes in due to tech reasons, pilot came on intercom after the safe landing citing the bird strike.
According to The Aviation Herald, the birds had been sitting on the runway and flew up when the aircraft departed and collided with a number of them. The gulls struck the main landing gear, belly, slats, both wings and the engine fan blades.
At the time we’re writing this article, the aircraft is still on the ground for maintenance.
