Bird strikes an 'emerging risk' for aircraft in Ireland

Reduced aircraft operations during the pandemic had led to increased activity by birds and other wildlife around airports, the IAA said.

Bird strikes have emerged as a growing problem for aircraft operating in Ireland, with almost 1,400 incidents reported in the past two years, according to the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA).

The IAA’s annual safety performance review for 2021 reveals that bird strikes were the second most common type of safety incident reported to the aviation safety authority during the period of the pandemic after system and component malfunctions in aircraft.