Flock of birds run into Iraqi plane prompting emergency landing in Erbil

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – An Iraqi Airways aircraft on Sunday made an emergency landing in Erbil International Airport (EIA), worried about possible damages to the body of the plane after running into a flock of birds.

The plane took flight at 10 a.m. from EIA toward Najaf airport, and after minutes in the air, the lead pilot turned back the plane and landed back in Erbil due to “technical problems,” EIA director Talar Fayaq told Kurdistan 24.

Fayaq said all 98 passengers and the staff aboard were safe.

Sources at the airport told Kurdistan 24 the plane landed after being hit by a flock of birds.

Later, the airport posted pictures on social media which showed the plane’s wings and engines spattered with blood from birds that had crashed into them.

Such incidents occur from time to time, with most going unreported.

Depending on the size of the birds crashing into the plane, more notably its engines, the extent of damages to the aircraft could vary.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany