Propeller smashes plane window after getting hit by bird in South Africa

In a horrifying incident, a snapped propeller smashed through the window of an aeroplane after getting struck by a bird in South Africa, terrifying onboard passengers.

Fortunately, the blade went straight into an area with unoccupied seats, resulting in zero casualties. The plane landed safely but suffered significant damages.

The model, a Jetstream JS-4, was approaching Venetia Mine in South Africa when the bird struck the propeller on the right-hand side. The blade snapped off from the hub, penetrating the sidewall of the aircraft and causing damage even on the inside of the cabin, reported The Sun. 

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Airlink issued a statement regarding the incident, saying,

“Yesterday an Airlink Jetstream 41 aircraft operating a private charter flight struck a large bird upon landing at Venetia airfield. None of the passengers or crew were injured although the aircraft sustained substantial damage.

In compliance with aviation protocols and regulations, the occurrence was reported to the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) which will conduct an investigation.

The aircraft remains at Venetia airfield pending the SACAA’s inspection and a full damage assessment.”

The JS-41 has MT-Propeller blades, a natural composite blade that has been in production since 1928 in Germany. MT natural composite has been tested to produce lower vibrations and better damping than other materials, plus they have greater ground clearance. The JS-41 was awarded an STC for MT-props by SACAA in 2011, according to Simple Flying.

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Bird strikes are not uncommon in aviation. While these may be minor at times, several serious birdstrike incidents have been reported, leading to loss of life.