Manchester, United Kingdom: A Jet2 passenger aircraft bound for the Greek island of Crete was forced to carry out an emergency landing at Manchester Airport after it was struck by a flock of geese shortly after take-off, leading to a precautionary diversion and a rapid response from the flight crew.
The incident occurred during the initial climb phase of the flight, when the aircraft encountered a bird strike involving geese. Due to the size and potential impact of such birds, the crew immediately assessed the situation for any possible engine or structural damage before deciding to return to the departure airport as a safety precaution.
Following standard aviation procedures, the pilots declared an emergency and coordinated with air traffic control to prioritise an immediate return. The aircraft safely landed without further incident, and no injuries were reported among passengers or crew on board.
Emergency services were placed on standby as a precautionary measure in line with airport emergency response protocols. However, their intervention was not required after the aircraft came to a safe stop on the runway.
Passengers were safely disembarked after landing, and airline staff arranged assistance for onward travel. Jet2 later confirmed that the decision to return was taken strictly in the interest of safety, emphasising that precautionary diversions are standard practice following suspected bird strikes.
Bird strikes involving geese are considered more serious than smaller bird impacts due to their size and weight, particularly during take-off and landing when aircraft are operating at lower altitudes and higher thrust settings. In such scenarios, even a single impact can require a full technical inspection before the aircraft is cleared to fly again.
The aircraft involved is expected to undergo a detailed engineering inspection to assess any potential damage to engines or external components before being returned to service.
Jet2 has maintained that safety remains its highest priority, and that its flight crews are trained to respond immediately to any abnormal situation in accordance with strict operational procedures.
Authorities have not released further technical details regarding the extent of any damage, and routine investigations are expected to follow standard aviation safety protocols.
