SEATAC, Wash. — Passengers on a flight from Seattle to New Jersey had to be re-routed back to Sea-Tac and put onto another plane after their plane was damaged by a bird strike.
United flight 1695 was heading to Newark just before midnight Tuesday when it hit birds soon after takeoff.
It was traveling at 280 to 290 mph when the bird strike happened. Based on that speed, the impact force from a bird could have been anywhere from 3 to 28 tons, depending on the size of the bird.
KIRO 7 spoke to Gino O'Donnell, who is a pilot and lives in Burien.
O’Donnell said he heard the moment the plane hit the birds.
“I heard this really loud – like a low poof – that was just not right from what we normally hear coming from the airport,” said O’Donnell.
The plane returned to Sea-Tac and the passengers were put onto another plane, which has since arrived in Newark.
No one was hurt.
Cox Media Group
