Plane strikes flock of birds during horror landing

A plane has struck a flock of birds during a horror landing at a major airport – with the aircraft sustaining severe damage to its nose cone.

Flight AT972 from Moroccan airline Royal Air Maroc (RAM) departed from Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca, Morocco for Madrid, Spain, on Saturday 14 September.

But upon landing at the Madrid–Barajas Airport, the aircraft collided with the birds, as reported by Need To Know.

The collision severely damaged the plane’s nose radome and weather radar antenna.

According to reports, the bird strike also caused damage to the cockpit.

Despite the scare, the pilot managed to land safely on Runway 32L.

A Royal Air Maroc flight struck a flock of birds during landing in Madrid, severely damaging the plane’s nose cone and cockpit, but the pilot safely landed the aircraft. — *The nose of the plane damaged after colliding with a flock of birds whilst trying to land. (Picture: Jam Press)*

RAM later swapped the damaged Embraer E190AR aircraft with a Boeing 737 for the return leg.

The damaged plane currently remains grounded in Madrid.

RAM suffered another issue last month when passengers on one of its flights from Casablanca to Manchester were left without their luggage for serveral days, according to the Independent.

This was reportedly due to a cockroach infestation in the aircraft’s hold.