A plane carrying passengers collided birdlife at Skagway Airport on the Friday. The plane was able to land in a safe manner and there was no human injured.
All was well up to the conclusion that flight. The Cessna Caravan was a part of Alaska Seaplanes was approaching the runway when the pilot spotted an animal near the wing.
“When they got to the bottom on the runway, they discovered five birds killed,” said Andy Kline who is the marketing director of Alaska Seaplanes. “It was evident from the way they examined the birds that they weren’t sucked inside the props or any other thing similar to that.”
Kline states that Alaska Seaplanes flew in a mechanic to look over the aircraft. The mechanic found no evidence of damage or impact on the aircraft. Kline states that the birds likely were hit through the landing gear.
The plane was re-in operation and is operating without issue since the accident.
It is located near the Skagway airport is located close to the entrance to the Skagway River. In spring and early summer, a lot of birds gather there and pose a threat for aircraft traffic. In the case of Alaska, Alaska Department of Transportation currently employs explosives to keep bird away from its runway. This practice was recently condemned by residents who claim their pets are terrified by the blasts.
However, Kline claims that the safety concern is justifiable.
“Bird strikes are a significant possibility of occurrence, and it’s something we’re worried about, and it’s an integral inherent to being a pilot within Southeast Alaska,” he stated.
Wildlife strike database has reported 58 collisions with birds, including one with a coyote Alaska over the course of the year.
