Emergency Landing After Bird Strike
A Vueling Airbus A320 made an emergency landing at Barcelona-El Prat airport on Saturday 17 October after colliding with birds shortly after takeoff, causing a fire in one of its engines. The aircraft, operating flight VY6810 to Milan, returned safely to the airport with no injuries reported among passengers or crew. Airport and Civil Protection sources confirmed the incident occurred just after departure. The impact damaged one engine, which caught fire, prompting the flight crew to abort the journey and initiate an emergency return.
Aerocat Emergency Plan Activated
In response, Civil Protection of Catalonia activated the Aerocat plan, the Special Plan for Aeronautical Emergencies, in pre-alert phase. This protocol coordinates emergency services during aviation incidents and was deactivated once the aircraft had landed safely and the situation was under control. According to official information cited by El Mundo and La Vanguardia, the plane touched down without incident. Emergency crews were on standby but were not required.
No Injuries, Passengers Safely Evacuated
All passengers and crew disembarked normally. Vueling has not yet released details on the aircraft’s condition or arrangements for affected passengers. The incident underscores the risks of bird strikes during takeoff, a known hazard in aviation safety. Investigations into the cause are expected to be carried out in line with standard procedures by aviation authorities.
What This Means for Travellers
The event caused temporary disruption at El Prat but no long-term operational impact has been reported. Passengers scheduled on Vueling flights are advised to check the airline’s official portal for real-time updates: www.vueling.com.
Primary sources: cido.diba.cat. Reported by barnadiario.com, José Manuel Rodríguez Camarero, elmundo.es, lavanguardia.com, cronicaglobal.elespanol.com, bea.aero, Crónica Global, El Mundo Cataluña, La Ciutat, elconfidencial.com, Crónica Global (CA), Barna Diario.
