Boeing 737 plane makes emergency landing after swans smash into windscreen

A Tui plane was forced to make an emergency landing after two swans collided with the aircraft shortly after takeoff, The Sun reports.

The Boeing 737 Max, operated by TUI, was en route from Gatwick Airport to Cape Verde when the bird strike occurred at around 1,000 feet. The birds hit the jet at 185mph, puncturing the fuselage and cracking the windscreen.

Pilots issued a mayday distress call, and the plane was immediately grounded. Upon landing, it was escorted to the stand as the pilots struggled to see through the blood-smeared, shattered windscreen.

Images from the scene show bloodstains on the aircraft’s exterior and debris scattered across the windscreen. Sources claim the bird strike, involving two large swans, compromised the plane's ability to pressurize, creating a dangerous situation.

Speaking to The Sun, a source said, “Bird strikes are not uncommon at UK airports, but this was on a scale of terror never seen before. The sheer size of the birds and the double strike breached the plane's forward fuselage, damaging critical systems and making it impossible to pressurize the cabin. It was carnage, but the pilots did a terrific job under incredibly challenging conditions.”

Emergency services responded as the runway was closed for debris inspection.

The plane is expected to be grounded for weeks, with repairs estimated to cost at least £1 million. This incident follows a tragic bird strike in South Korea last December, which claimed the lives of 179 people.