A Jet2 aircraft departing from Yorkshire had to conduct an emergency landing following a bird strike shortly after takeoff. The flight, identified as LS443 en route to Heraklion on the Greek island of Crete, took off from Leeds Bradford around 9 am on Monday. However, the plane collided with a bird not long after departure, leading the crew to abort the ascent. The aircraft safely landed at Manchester Airport at 9:53 am.
Alex, a passenger from Baildon, recounted to the Yorkshire Post hearing a loud noise on the plane, accompanied by a distinct odor of burning feathers and flesh.
“We circled north of Manchester Airport at 10,000 feet for about an hour before landing,” Alex told the newspaper.
“After landing in Manchester, emergency teams inspected the engine and landing gear as we touched down heavily. Subsequently, we disembarked the aircraft and transferred to another A320 at Manchester. We were airborne again by lunchtime.”
Subsequent to the incident, the Boeing 737-800 maintained an altitude of approximately 4,500 feet, with flight trackers showing the plane circling at a low altitude while the pilots evaluated the damage.
Alex commended the Jet2 staff for their handling of the situation, stating, “The crew provided timely updates from the cockpit, reassuring passengers and keeping us informed of the plan.”
He further mentioned, “Complimentary beverages were offered on the subsequent flight. I have no complaints about Jet2’s response. It was exceptional and quite an unforgettable experience!”
The Mirror has reached out to Jet2 for a statement.