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Venezuela, Feb 22nd 2010

Vulture Strike forces Plane’s emergency landing at “La Chinita”.

Yesterday, an American Airlines flight with 114 passengers experienced twenty-five minutes of fear when the aircraft ingested a vulture into its right hand engine while climbing out of Maracaibo to Miami.

The incident was caused, apparently, by a vulture that crossed right in front the airplane and was ingested by the engine, prompting the pilot to return and make an emergency landing at La Chinita International Airport.

 “ The plane took off at 8:15 am. Everything was passing off normally until we heard a strange noise and the aircraft lost power. Many of us got anxious and began to call the crew members  ”, described Emilia Morillo, a passenger who was still dismayed.

According to Irving Matos, the incident took place next to the airport, above the botanical garden and a landfill, — places where these birds of prey breed—.
During 25 minutes, the airplane turned around cyclically in the impact zone, prompting the agitated hearts and doubts resound at B757 flight deck.

Tension eased when the voice of one of the crew members of flight 724 was heard. “ He informed that the pilot would land, after verifying that a vulture was ingested into the right engine ”, Morillo added.

Two minutes later, the plane returned to the runway. Right there, Aeronautical firemen and safety personnel helped some passengers that had an apparent nervous breakdown, as Miriam Bastidas of Hernández, who was crying and trembling with panic.

 “I got a terrible fright. I did not know what was happening. I only closed my eyes and entrusted myself to God ”, she expressed with dismay.

The Air terminal Authorities reported that 112 adults, two children and six crew members were flying in that plane. “ The company notified that the flight suffered an impact in its engine, without specifying if it was with a bird. The pilot decided to return due to safety reasons, since it was still missing three quarter parts of the flight path ” confirmed Luis Querales, Airport Operations Manager.

The authority added that the flight was cancelled. “ Passengers that had connections were sent to Maiquetía. Others will depart today (yesterday), at night. The rest will arrive tomorrow (on Monday), at the same time, in two simultaneous flights ”.

In less than three months, this is the second incident that registers the same route and air company in “ La Chinita ”. Last December 2nd, the plane with registration N1 82AN collided with another vulture. In that occasion the left engine was damaged and the flight was cancelled.

The air terminal authorities were requested to minimize this type of incidents that put the planes in risk and flights in danger.

Source here