Flight From Shanghai to Brisbane Forced to Turn Back After Bird Strike

Passengers on a China Eastern Airlines flight had a scary encounter on Sunday after the plane was struck by birds an hour into the flight. The plane was headed from Shanghai to Brisbane but was forced to return to Shanghai for safety purposes, Shine reports. Bird strikes can cause major engine damage. 

Flight MU715 departed at 9.30pm on Sunday night. After colliding with a flock of birds, the pilots turned around and landed back at Pudong International Airport at 10.45pm. 

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Passengers boarded a different plane at 2.30am and landed in Brisbane five hours after the original arrival time. 

During the summer months, bird strikes are actually quite common in Shanghai and other coastal areas. During this season birds migrate to the area to breed. 

[Cover image via Andrew W. Sieber/Flickr]