Budapest Airport experiences dual bird strikes involving Ryanair flights

Two Ryanair aircraft bound for Italy experienced bird strikes within minutes of each other at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport on Saturday morning. The incidents involved flights destined for Naples and Alghero.

The Naples-bound flight reportedly struck a common buzzard but arrived at its destination safely. For the Alghero flight, Ryanair deployed a replacement aircraft to prevent significant delays.

Following the incidents, air traffic control closed a runway for 18 minutes to conduct necessary safety inspections, causing arriving flights to circle in the air for over 15 minutes. While Budapest Airport noted that bird strikes are not uncommon, the occurrence of two such incidents in such a short timeframe is unusual. The airport utilizes various methods to deter birds, including acoustic devices, cannons, and visual deterrents.