FlySafair flight FA678, departing from Lanseria International Airport en route to Durban, was diverted to OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday morning following a bird strike shortly after takeoff. The aircraft landed safely, and no injuries were reported.
The 9:40 am flight, originally scheduled to land at Durban’s King Shaka International Airport at 10:55 am, faced technical difficulties with its second engine due to the bird strike. Approximately 30 minutes into the journey, the captain informed passengers about the rerouting to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg as a safety precaution.
FlySafair spokesperson Maryke Pienaar confirmed the incident, explaining, “The aircraft landed safely, and we’ve moved the passengers onto a new aircraft to resume their journey to Durban. ETA in Durban is 12:45 pm. We apologise for any inconvenience caused as the team prioritises safety.”
Passengers waited for about an hour at OR Tambo before boarding a replacement plane to complete their journey.
Pienaar reassured travelers that while bird strikes are an inherent risk in aviation, pilots are extensively trained to handle such situations. “Bird strikes are not that unusual. Unfortunately, this can happen, but our pilots are well-trained to manage it safely,” she said.
Bird strikes, which occur when birds collide with an aircraft, can range from minor incidents to serious ones, depending on the size of the bird and the point of impact. While most strikes cause little to no damage, larger birds or flocks can damage critical components such as engines, wings, or windshields. In extreme cases, bird strikes can lead to loss of control, as seen in the 2009 “Miracle on the Hudson” incident, where a plane safely landed in New York’s Hudson River after bird strikes disabled both engines.
Fortunately, Thursday’s incident ended without injury, and passengers are expected to arrive in Durban later the same day. FlySafair thanked passengers for their patience and understanding during the delay.