Ireland

Ryanair plane forced to return to land after bird strike

Flight from Manchester to Palma de Mallorca aborted soon after takeoff

Photograph: Alan Betson, Irish Times Staff Photographer.--------------------------------------Ryanair Aircraft at Dublin Airport
Photograph: Alan Betson, Irish Times Staff Photographer.--------------------------------------Ryanair Aircraft at Dublin Airport
Fri Apr 01 2016 - 19:36

A Ryanair flight has been forced to return to land after declaring a midair emergency above Manchester following a bird strike.

Flight FR3445 was headed to Palma de Mallorca in Spain but reported a problem shortly after takeoff.

It circled over the airport for a time before returning to land at about 7pm.

“This flight from Manchester to Palma returned to Manchester shortly after take-off following a minor bird strike,” the airline said in a statement.

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“ The aircraft landed normally and the flight to Palma will operate as soon as possible.

“Ryanair apologised to affected customers for any inconvenience caused.”