Vulture removed from Ryanair aircraft wing in Crete

A vulture had to be removed from the tail wing of a Ryanair aircraft at Heraklion Airport on the Greek island of Crete to prevent potential damage and ensure flight safety. The incident occurred late Sunday evening as the plane was preparing for takeoff.

Airport fire services (ARFF) were called to the scene to safely relocate the large scavenger. Emergency responders used specialized equipment and protective gear to capture the bird without injury. Following its removal, the vulture was placed in a wooden box and transported to the island’s natural history museum for care.

While Crete is home to a significant population of over 1,000 vultures that play a vital role in the local ecosystem, encounters with commercial aircraft at airports are considered extremely rare and pose a serious aviation safety risk.