A 
Delta Air Liness flight en route to Atlanta from San Jose turned back on Tuesday afternoon after a reported bird strike shortly after takeoff, according to ABC7 News. The incident occurred around 13:00 local time, prompting the aircraft to return to San Jose Mineta International Airport.
According to airport officials, the decision to turn back was made as a precautionary measure, ensuring the safety of the 124 passengers and six crew members onboard.
Photo: Philip Pilosian | Shutterstock
Replacement aircraft sent after diversion
The flight, Delta Flight 809, was scheduled to travel from San Jose to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. However, after the bird strike, the aircraft, a Boeing 737-900 with registration N921DU, returned to the airport. No injuries were reported among the passengers or crew. The flight returned to San Jose approximately 20 minutes after takeoff, according to FlightAware.
Delta Air Lines arranged for another aircraft to continue the journey. A replacement plane, registered N842DN, another Boeing 737-900ER, was dispatched to carry the travelers to Atlanta later that evening, resulting in a 5-hour, 30-minute delay. According to FlightAware, N842DN left San Jose at 18:20 local time and arrived in Atlanta at 01:36 the following day. The initial flight was scheduled to arrive at 20:10.
A closer look at the aircraft
The aircraft involved in the incident, registered N921DU, is a Boeing 737-932ER. Delivered to Delta Air Lines in February 2019, it has been in service for just over five years, the PlanesSpotter website shows. The aircraft, which has a maximum seating capacity of 180 passengers, is configured with 20 business class seats and 160 seats in economy class. This aircraft is powered by two CFMI CFM56-7BE engines. The plane’s age of 5.7 years makes it relatively new within Delta’s fleet.
Flightradar24 showed that the aircraft was sent to Salt Lake City as a ferry flight on the next day, November 6. It returned to service on November 7.
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The replacement aircraft, N824DN, is also a Boeing 737-900ER, but it is slightly older than N921DU, having first flown in June 2015. This aircraft has been in service for nearly a decade and is similarly configured with two CFMI CFM56-7BE engines. Like N921DU, N824DN is configured with 180 seats, offering 20 business and 180 economy class seats. Though it is nearly four years older, N824DN remains an integral part of Delta’s fleet and continues to operate reliably on various routes.
![A Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-900ER Taxiing In Seattle.]()
What happened in a bird strike?
What happened in a bird strike? While a bird strike is not rare, it can cause damage to aircraft, like engine failures, especially when it happens near airports. Bird strikes almost always damage the forward-facing areas of the aircraft, especially the windscreen, nose cone, and engines. Approximately 97% of bird strikes occur at or near an airport while a plane lands, takes off, or is at a low altitude.
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Federal Aviation Administration Wildlife Hazard Mitigation database shows at least 10,000 bird strikes happened this year. Although bird strikes are not typically catastrophic, they can cause damage to engines or other vital components, which is why the crew followed standard procedures to ensure safety.
