LONDON — A British Airways Airbus A320neo bound for the Azores experienced a bird strike shortly after taking off from London Heathrow Airport on Saturday, October 10, 2026.
Flight BA534 departed Heathrow Terminal 5 at 12:30 BST, carrying passengers on a scheduled service to João Paulo II Airport in Ponta Delgada (PDL). During the initial climb out of London, the aircraft (registered as G-TTNW) struck a bird directly on the first officer’s windshield.
Following the impact, the flight crew immediately initiated operational protocols, evaluating whether to turn back or proceed. The pilots contacted British Airways operations to check whether technical maintenance support would be available upon arrival at Ponta Delgada or if an immediate return to London Heathrow was necessary for safety inspections.
After determining that conditions remained stable and confirming destination support, the flight crew opted to continue the journey across the Atlantic.
The Airbus A320neo touched down safely at João Paulo II Airport in Ponta Delgada 3 hours and 26 minutes after departure. No injuries were reported among the passengers or crew. Ground engineers at Ponta Delgada inspected the aircraft’s windshield and surrounding structure before clearing it for subsequent operations.
