A FlyArystan plane reported a bird strike while conducting a regular flight from Uralsk to Astana. Despite the collision, the aircraft continued its flight and safely landed in the capital city of Kazakhstan. Later, service technicians identified «multiple damages to the aircraft» and the remains of birds inside the engine.
The incident occurred on Jan. 26 during the departure of the FlyArystan plane from Uralsk to Astana.
«The collision occurred with a flock of birds at Uralsk Airport. Since there were no failures in the aircraft’s engines or other systems, the crew decided to continue the flight and landed at Astana Airport as scheduled. Upon arrival, technicians servicing the plane reported multiple defects, including damage to the compressor blades in the left engine and parts of the aircraft body, as well as the remains of birds, including inside the engine,» the company’s press service reported.
Bird samples will be sent for DNA testing to help prevent similar incidents at Uralsk Airport in the future.
«The Air Astana Group believes minimizing the risk of bird collisions is crucial, as they remain a major challenge to aviation safety. Recent incidents involving other airlines provide clear evidence of this. That is why our airline actively collaborates with international experts to improve programs designed to manage wildlife at Kazakhstani airports,» the statement reads.
Citing the International Air Transport Association, FlyArystan stated that the number of bird strikes in Kazakhstan is significantly higher than the global average.
«In 2024, the rate of bird collisions per 10,000 flights in Kazakhstan increased by 30% compared to 2023, reaching 203 incidents. Air Astana urges local airports to implement proactive measures, including environmental management, to reduce flight safety risks effectively,» the airline said.
Earlier this month, a Boeing 737 operated by the South Korean airline Jeju Air, carrying 175 passengers and six crew members, crashed at Muan International Airport. The aircraft failed to land safely and collided with a concrete fence, resulting in the deaths of 179 people on board. According to South Korean investigators, feathers and blood were found in both engines of the Jeju Air aircraft.
