Birds are a safety concern for airplanes. When planes take off or land, they sometimes fly into birds. This impact is called a “bird strike.” It can cause problems for the plane. If an engine gets hit by a bird, it can damage the fan blades and cause the engine to fail. A famous example is the 2009 bird strike that happened to US Airways Flight 1549. The plane had to land on the Hudson River after birds hit both engines.
This danger is why airports try to keep birds away. They use loud sounds and lights to scare the birds. Pilots and airports work hard to keep everyone safe.
Luis Apolo Staff Reporter kids/1737072866/1613368218
1. What happens when a plane flies into a bird?
2. What happened to US Airways Flight 1549 in 2009?
3. How do airports try to keep birds away from planes?
1. Have you ever seen birds near an airport or plane? What were they doing?
2. What do you think would happen if a bird hit a plane during takeoff?
3. Do you think airports should do more to keep birds away from planes? Why or why not?
Birds are a safety concern for airplanes. When planes take off or land, they sometimes fly into birds. This impact is called a “bird strike.” It can cause problems for the plane. If an engine gets hit by a bird, it can damage the fan blades and cause the engine to fail. A famous example is the 2009 bird strike that happened to US Airways Flight 1549. The plane had to land on the Hudson River after birds hit both engines.
