Flair Airlines 737 Captain Injured in Birdstrike Incident
A recent birdstrike incident involving a Flair Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 in Canada left the captain with minor injuries and caused significant damage to the aircraft’s cockpit window. The incident occurred on October 24, 2024, shortly after takeoff from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) on a flight to Winnipeg-Richardson International Airport (YWG).
Flair Airlines flight F8641 departed Toronto’s runway 33L at 13:43 local time for its scheduled two-hour journey to Winnipeg. As the aircraft climbed northwest over Brampton and approached an altitude of approximately 1,220 meters (4,000 feet), it encountered a flock of Canadian Geese just three minutes into the ascent. The impact of the birds shattered the captain’s front windscreen on the left side, puncturing the upper outboard panel. Shards of glass entered the cockpit, resulting in minor injuries to the captain seated in the left-hand seat.
Upon the birdstrike, the flight crew immediately issued a “PAN PAN” emergency distress call, requesting a prompt return to Toronto-Pearson. The aircraft executed a left-hand downwind circuit, successfully landing on runway 33L at 14:11, about 28 minutes after departure, without any further complications. Ground crew later assisted in towing the aircraft to the gate due to limited forward visibility caused by the damaged windscreen.
According to a report by the Aviation Herald, Canada’s Transportation Safety Board (TSB) later confirmed that the birdstrike involved at least one Canadian Goose, with damage focused on the captain’s windscreen. TSB’s report also verified that the captain’s injuries, while minor, were due to shattered glass entering the cockpit.
The aircraft, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 registered as C-FLKO, is 5.4 years old and was delivered to Flair Airlines in August 2022. The plane, leased through SKY Leasing and Flair’s parent company, 777 Partners, accommodates 189 passengers in an all-economy configuration. The birdstrike marks a significant event, highlighting the potential dangers of wildlife encounters at lower altitudes near busy airports.
Since the incident, the aircraft remains grounded at Toronto-Pearson Airport and is currently listed as “stored” as of early November 2024. Birdstrike events, while rare, emphasize the importance of bird management programs near airports to mitigate similar risks in the future.
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