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Travel Radar - Aviation News > News > Aviation > Airlines > Bird strike causes damage to nose cone onboard flight IB579 to Paris
AirlinesAirportsAviation

Bird strike causes damage to nose cone onboard flight IB579 to Paris

Ruby Waghorn
Last updated: 4 August 2025 08:42
By Ruby Waghorn 3 Min Read
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Airbus plane damage after bird strike. bird strike shortly after leaving Madrid Barajas Airport
aviationbrk
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An aircraft on its flight path to Paris Orly Airport was hit by a bird strike shortly after leaving Madrid Barajas Airport on Sunday, Aug. 3.

Summary
The impact caused by the bird strike during the flightWhy did the plane have to turn back to the departing Airport?Possible damage to critical components of the aircraft

The impact caused by the bird strike during the flight

The nose cone of the Iberia Airbus A321-253NY (XLR) was subsequently damaged in the incident, leaving the pilot and the crew to turn back around to Madrid Airport. The damage is visible in the photo below.

Airbus plane damage after bird strike bird strike shortly after leaving Madrid Barajas Airport
The damage to the Airbus after a bird strike to the aircraft’s nose ©aviationbrk

Why did the plane have to turn back to the departing Airport?

A bird strike often occurs at a lower altitude, when the plane has not long taken off. The pilots and co-pilot onboard are able to see the nose while flying, so any damage or possibility of damage means the plane must safely land as soon as possible. The full extent of the damage would be unknown until landing, when the aircraft can be safely inspected for wreckage. Even if the aircraft appears to be flying normally, there is a possibility of hidden structural damage or damage to the radar system.

Bird strikes
The Federal Aviation Administration reports that there were just shy of 300,000 “wildlife strikes” between 1990 and 2022 ©FAA

Possible damage to critical components of the aircraft

Structural damage can lead to temperature and pressure changes, causing harm to those on board. The nose cone, or radome, holds the radar system of the aircraft, therefore responsible for helping pilots navigate storms and turbulence. If this system is not running well or at full capability, it poses a safety risk.

On X, passengers and witnesses report that, in addition to the damage to the radome, the left engine was lost. The Airbus A321-253NY (XLR) is equipped with a twin-engine design, meaning the plane will fly as usual should an engine be lost, but in this instance, the safest option for the pilot was to turn back to the airport.

Flight IB579 turned back to Madrid Airport 20 minutes after departure.

How often do you think bird strikes affect flights? Let us know in the comments below.

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Ruby Waghorn
By Ruby Waghorn
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News Editor - Ruby is currently undertaking her masters degree in Political Communication, with an undergraduate degree in Media, Journalism and Publishing.
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