What happens if a bird goes into the engine?
It sounds dramatic, but it’s one of the things an engine is tested against most before it ever enters service.
Engines are tested against birds on purpose
Before flying, an engine must prove in certification that, after ingesting small and medium birds, it still produces at least 75% of takeoff thrust (standard 14 CFR §33.76). The large-bird test is done at 200 knots. It’s not an oversight — it’s a tested requirement.
And there’s more than one engine
Even if a strike affected one engine, the aircraft flies on the other (that’s what ETOPS is about). Windshields are also certified to withstand bird impacts, and airports actively manage wildlife to reduce the risk.
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Prepare my flightCan a bird stop an engine?
It’s rare, and even then the plane flies on the other engine. Engines are certified to keep producing strong thrust after ingesting birds.
Does a bird strike damage the plane?
Engines and windshields are certified against bird impacts. A strike is handled as a trained procedure, usually continuing or diverting normally.
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