Propeller smashes THROUGH plane, narrowly missing passengers

An investigation has been launched after a plane’s propeller smashed through the side of the aircraft when it was hit by a bird during landing. 

Passengers on the Jetstream 41, which was approaching Venetia Mine in South Africa, were left terrified when the bird hit the engine with such a force that the propeller was sent flying through the cabin to the other side of the aisle.  

No one was injured in the ordeal as the blade luckily landed in an area of the cabin which was unoccupied. 

After tearing through one side of the aircraft, the blade smashed into a passenger window, destroying the window pane on the opposite side of the fuselage. 

Photos from inside the aircraft show splinters of wood strewn across the floor. 

Fortunately the plane was able to make a safe landing.   

The Johannesburg airline, Airlink, which operates the plane, said in a statement: ‘Yesterday an Airlink Jetstream 41 aircraft operating a private charter flight struck a large bird upon landing at Venetia airfield. 

‘None of the passengers or crew were injured although the aircraft sustained substantial damage.

‘In compliance with aviation protocols and regulations, the occurrence was reported to the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) which will conduct an investigation.

‘The aircraft remains at Venetia airfield pending the SACAA’s inspection and a full damage assessment.’

It’s not the first case of animals causing chaos for aircraft this week. 

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Flights were stopped from landing at Heathrow Airport today after a fox entered the runway – several planes have been forced to circle above the airport while the runway is cleared

Flights faced disruption at Heathrow Airport on Tuesday after a fox entered the runway. 

Several planes were reportedly forced to circle before landing on Heathrow Airport’s 27R runway or redirected on the ground after the creature was spotted walking across the turf.

Elsewhere fire appliances were seen escorting a British Airways Airbus A350-1041 which had flown in from Dubai after reports of a possible bird strike or tail strike when landing.  

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