16 January,2009 08:51 AM IST | | Agencies
Early reports suggest that a bird strike caused a jet plane to crash in the Hudson River, leaving questions about how a little flying animal could down a big airliner.
More than 200 people have been killed worldwide as a result of wildlife strikes with aircraft since 1988, according to Bird Strike Committee USA.
Bird strikes, or the collision of an aircraft with an airborne bird, tend to happen when aircraft are close to the ground, which means just before landing or after take-off, when jet engines are turning at top speeds.
The incidents are serious particularly when the birds, usually gulls, raptors and geese, are sucked into a jet engine and strike an engine fan blade. That impact displaces the blade such that it strikes another blade and a cascade can occur, resulting in engine failure.
Yesterday's incident involved a flock of geese.
Large aircraft are certified to be able to keep flying after impacting a 1.5 kg bird, however 36 species of birds in North America weigh more than this. Even smaller birds, such as starlings, can cause engine failure.
