March 16, 2009

A Delta Airlines Boeing 757-200, registration N644DL performing flight DL-1053 from New Orleans,LA to Atlanta,GA (USA) with 191 people on board, encountered a bird strike during initial climb. The crew decided to level off at 4000 feet and returned to New Orleans’ Armstrong International Airport for a safe landing.

A post flight inspection revealed damage to the fan blades of the right hand engine and a hydraulics leak, although both engines continued to operate normally.

The crew announced while in flight, that the airplane had hit sea gulls.

According to the airport more than one bird hit the airplane. The type of bird hasn’t yet been confirmed, initial evidence suggests they were sea gulls however. The pilot reported seeing more than 10 birds.