On the morning of March 9, local time, United Airlines flight UA1207 encountered a bird strike shortly after taking off from Newark Liberty International Airport. The crew quickly returned to the flight. In the end, the incident did not cause any casualties. It is reported that the flight carried 145 passengers and crew and was operated by a Boeing 737-8 MAX (model code B38M, registration number N37313). It was originally scheduled to fly from Newark to Jacksonville International Airport (JAX). The planned departure time was 7:30 that day. It actually took off at 11:59 and turned back due to an unexpected accident.
The flight took off from Newark Airport's Runway 22R and collided with a bird while climbing to an altitude of approximately 3,000 feet.The crew later discovered that the cabin glass was cracked, the window pads were damaged, and there were problems such as abnormal cabin pressurization.
After discovering the abnormality, the crew reported the relevant situation to the airline and air traffic control department.Finally, about 20 minutes after takeoff, the aircraft returned and landed safely on runway 22L of Newark Airport.
After the incident, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has officially launched an investigation, focusing on verifying the connection between the bird strike and the abnormal cabin pressurization, as well as the specific extent of damage to the aircraft structure, and clarifying the detailed reasons for the incident.
It is understood that global civil aviation encounters nearly 10,000 bird strikes every year, accounting for more than 75% of aviation unsafe incidents. It is the largest type of accident, and more than 90% occur during takeoff and landing near airports.
However, only 15%–20% of bird strikes will cause aircraft damage. The probability of a bird strike directly leading to a fatal air crash is extremely low. The vast majority of bird strikes only cause minor engine damage, flight return/alternative landing, and will not cause a crash.