On October 22, a plane flying from Haikou to Wuhu was forced to turn back about 20 minutes after takeoff due to a bird strike incident.
According to real-time information from aviation software, on October 22 at 7:10 a.m., Guilin Airlines flight GT1115 took off from Haikou Meilan Airport and returned to Haikou Meilan Airport at 7:32 a.m. The flight was operated by an Airbus A320 with an original plan to arrive at Wuhu Xuanzhou Airport at 9:45 a.m.
A passenger on the flight told a reporter from “Extreme News” that about 20 minutes into the flight, they suddenly heard an emergency announcement from the speaker stating that there was a mechanical issue with the aircraft requiring a return to the origin. “The cabin crew mentioned that a bird had struck the front windshield of the aircraft. It was the first time I encountered such a situation. It felt like we circled in the air shortly after takeoff and then returned. I feel fortunate that we landed safely.”
On that morning, a reporter from the media contacted Guilin Airlines customer service by phone. A staff member mentioned that based on the system data, flight GT1115 returned temporarily due to a malfunction and was undergoing safety checks. The flight was expected to depart again at 12:45 p.m. with the same aircraft.
The staff member explained that after takeoff, the aircraft suffered a bird strike on the windshield, prompting the return. To ensure safety, a comprehensive inspection of the plane was required before it could take off again, after confirming that it was safe and sound.