Srinagar, Aug 06: A passenger onboard captured chaotic scenes from inside the plane, later recounting the terrifying experience to ABC News. Initially, they believed it was just turbulence.
“We thought it was the turbulence the captain mentioned, but then we started hearing a noise… and we were like, okay, something’s going on,” said the passenger.
Another video circulating on social media shows nearly half of the plane’s nose completely destroyed.
Following the incident, Iberia released the following statement assuring safety of all involved. “The entire flight crew, including pilots and cabin crew, acted with the utmost professionalism in managing the situation and attending to the passengers.
ABC News contributor Col. Steve Ganyard, USMC (Ret.), stated that bird strikes are very common. “Fewer than 10% of those bird strikes cause damage to the aircraft,” Ganyard said, “In this case, the damage was severe enough to one of the engines that it caused smoke coming into the cabin,”
The flight, headed for Paris Orly Airport, was forced to return to Madrid just 20 minutes after takeoff, according to the New York Post. Relief swept through the cabin as the plane landed safely, prompting passengers to break into applause.
