Five incidents of birds colliding with aircraft at airports across the country were reported in Pakistan on Tuesday alone, damaging four Pakistan International Airlines planes and one Airblue aircraft.
According to sources, 14 incidents of birds colliding with airplanes were reported in July, 10 in August and 15 in September, with pilots writing to the PIA administration to complain about the bird strikes.
In Karachi, the derelict planes parked around the Ispahani hangar of the Jinnah Terminal have become a haven for birds. Sources at the airport further stated that dozens of birds flocked on and around the airport's runways and funnel area, leading to increasing collisions.
Furthermore, they said, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) was using outdated methods in its unsuccessful attempts to eliminate these birds, such as deputing men to shoot them down.
While airport authorities have repeatedly claimed new equipment will be installed to deal with this challenge over the years, no concrete steps have been taken in this regard. However, sources informed The Express Tribune that the CAA was working on putting radar technology for bird control in place.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 1st, 2020.
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