A Nepal Airlines Airbus A320, reg. 9N-AKW, operating flight RA225 from Kathmandu to Bangalore returned to the airport shortly after takeoff on May 27 due to a bird strike. The flight, which was carrying 158 passengers and crew, was climbing out of Kathmandu's runway 02 when the crew initiated a return to Kathmandu due to struck a flock of birds shortly after takeoff. The impact caused damage to the aircraft's engine, and the pilot stopped the climb at FL170 and returned for a safe landing on runway 02 about 35 minutes after departure.
There were no injuries reported in the incident, and the passengers were able to disembark safely. The aircraft was replaced with an Airbus A330-200 and reached Bangalore with a delay of about 4:30 hours. The 9N-AKW is still on the ground in Kathmandu, approximately 32 hours after landing.
Bird strikes are a common occurrence in aviation, and they can cause significant damage to aircraft. In some cases, bird strikes can even lead to accidents. However, most bird strikes do not result in serious injuries or fatalities.
Airlines take steps to minimize the risk of bird strikes, such as flying at higher altitudes and avoiding areas where birds are known to congregate. However, it is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of bird strikes.
