PHOTOS: Airlink plane

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PHOTOS: Airlink plane collides with Africa’s heaviest flying bird

An Airlink aircraft collided with Africa’s heaviest flying bird, snapping off a propeller blade and sending it hurtling into the cabin.

PHOTOS: Airlink plane

Photo: Facebook

Yes, it happened! An Airlink aircraft collided with Africa’s heaviest flying bird, snapping off a propeller blade and sending it hurtling into the cabin.

LUCKY ESCAPE FOR THOSE ONBOARD

The crew and passengers on this charter flight from Johannesburg to Limpopo had a lucky escape.

The airline said in a statement that an Airlink Jetstream 41 aircraft operating a private charter flight struck a large bird upon landing at Venetia airfield.

The incident happened on Monday.

A LARGE BIRD FLEW INTO THE RIGHT-HAND PROPELLER

The large bird, believed to be a kori bustard, flew into the right-hand propeller. The Kori Bustard is Africa’s heaviest flying bird. A large male can weigh as much as 19kg and have a wingspan of 275cm.

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“None of the passengers or crew were injured, although the aircraft sustained substantial damage.

“In compliance with aviation protocols and regulations, the occurrence was reported to the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), which will conduct an investigation,” it said.

Airlink furthermore said the damaged aircraft remains at Venetia airfield pending the SACAA’s inspection and a full damage assessment.

PHOTOS SHOW DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE BLADE INSIDE THE AIRCRAFT

Photos from inside the aircraft show splinters of wood strewn across the floor.

PHOTOS: Airlink
Photos: Facebook
Photo: Facebook
PHOTOS: Airlink plane
Photo: Facebook
Photo: Facebook

THE BLADE GOUGED A HOLE IN THE FUSELAGE

The blade luckily landed in an area of the cabin which was unoccupied.


Bits of the propeller embedded in a seat and fragments scattered on the aircraft floor can be seen in the photos. The blade gouged a hole in the fuselage and broke a cabin window.

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Bird strikes have been an all-too-common occurrence since the dawn of aviation.