Bush Pilot’s Plane Strikes Flock of Birds During Takeoff in Alaska

Other Animals

Products You May Like

In Alaska, a small propeller plane collided with a flock of willow ptarmigan, leaving the hull of the aircraft marked with blood and feathers.

The incident occurred on September 26 as Mark Schwantes, a big game hunter and experienced commercial fishing captain, was preparing to take off for Anchorage.

While getting ready for flight, Schwantes noticed a flock of the birds, which are Alaska’s state birds, near the runway.

“Typically, they scatter when a plane starts up, but this time, they lingered a bit too long,” Schwantes recounted to SWNS.

“Just as we were going airborne, about half a dozen flew up in front of us and hit the propeller.”

Schwantes, surprisingly unfazed by the collision, continued the flight without incident.

He explained that he had confidence in the plane’s ability to handle the impact and was able to maintain control.

Although the plane sustained no apparent mechanical damage, the aftermath of the collision left the aircraft spattered with the remains of the birds.

This article by Trinity Sparke  was first published by One Green Planet on 12 November 2024. Image Credit :Jonas Aleksander Larsen/Shutterstock.

What you can do

Help to save wildlife by donating as little as $1 – It only takes a minute.



payment

Products You May Like

Articles You May Like

Wildlife groups urge UK government to ban lead ammunition
Our Favorite Fascinating Bird Behaviors From the 2024 Audubon Photo Awards
Near-extinct Siberian crane is recovering thanks to habitat protection
Shrinking trees and tuskless elephants: the strange ways species are adapting to humans
Inside Dr. Pepperberg’s Lab: Reading to Parrots

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.