The plane had taken off from Entebbe International Airport just moments earlier when it plowed into the group of birds (PHOTO/Courtesy)
ENTEBBE — A Turkish Airlines plane has been forced to make an emergency landing at Entebbe International Airport after suffering a bird strike on take off.
The Turkish Airlines Flight Number 606 was taking off from Entebbe International Airport on Tuesday morning to Turkish Capital, Istanbul when it was struck by a flock, according to a spokesperson for the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, Vianney Luggya.
“On Tuesday, January 10, 2023, a Turkish Airlines flight number 606 departed Entebbe at 7.30 am for Istanbul while it was raining. Unfortunately, the aircraft experienced a bird strike during take-off,” Luggya said in a statement shared with this website.
As a precautionary measure, he said the flight hovered in the Ugandan airspace before landing safely at Entebbe at 08:52 am.
Luggya said the aircraft is being checked for airworthiness before resuming the flight.
There were no reported injuries of those on board, though the same likely can’t be said for the birds.
“Turkish 606 Entebbe to Istanbul appears to be having a problem. FR24 shows it flying a holding pattern a round Entebbe more than 40 minutes sometimes since take-off. Probably reducing weight for a return to base since the A330 doesn’t have fuel dumping capability,” an eyewitness said on Tuesday morning.
“True. [I] was trying to figure out the endless rumbling in our skies this cold morning.” Another one said.
“The thing was dangerously flying close to our water tank. Had its landing gear been down, they would be able to touch the water tip. But it’s now safe on the ground. We are also safe,” another witness wrote.
Recommended for you
