A flight from Liverpool to Fuerteventura declared an emergency shortly after takeoff on Wednesday after striking a bird mere moments after takeoff.
EasyJet flight U2 3375 issued the alert due to vibrations on the No. 1 engine.
The aircraft diverted to Manchester Airport, where it was met by the airport fire service, arriving in Fuerteventura later that evening.
Bird strikes most commonly occur during takeoff, landing, or low-altitude flight, and while rare in causing catastrophic accidents, these incidents can damage engines, windshields, and airframes, reportedly causing more than $900 million in annual damage to US civil and military aviation.
An EasyJet spokesman said: "Due to a bird strike shortly after take-off, flight EZY3375 from Liverpool to Fuerteventura yesterday diverted to Manchester where it was met by emergency services as a precautionary measure only and in line with procedures and the pilot performed a routine landing.
“We arranged for a replacement aircraft to continue the flight to Fuerteventura.
“The safety of our customers and crew is our highest priority, and while this was outside of our control, we would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused.”
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
An EasyJet plane collided with a bird moments after takeoff | GETTYSuch incidents, where airborne wildlife strikes a moving plane, pose significant safety risks and require thorough investigation before normal operations can resume.
Ground crews needed to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the runway surface to locate and remove any debris left behind by the collision.
The cockpit crew issued the internationally recognised distress signal indicating a general emergency: Squawk 7700.
The code ensured the aircraft received priority handling from controllers as pilots sought an immediate alternative destination.
Despite the tense circumstances and mid-air emergency declaration, all those on board landed without incident at both Manchester and subsequently Fuerteventura
Bird strikes are more common that one might think, with a previous EasyJet flight facing a similar emergency diversion in late January.
A Bristol-bound EasyJet flight was forced to land 180 miles away from its destination after a fuel emergency caused by a bird strike on January 25.
Passengers aboard the service from Madrid experienced a stressful journey when their aircraft was forced to declare an emergency and divert to Liverpool.