What's the Risk? A bird-strike event has been estimated to occur about once in every 2,000 flights, depending on the time of year and flight location. But many events are not reported.

Bird strikes are a relatively frequent occurrence in aviation, but incidents that result in engine failure or significant damage are quite rare. Statistics from 2026 indicate that a bird flies into an aircraft engine in approximately 1 out of every 10,000 flights worldwide. While there are thousands of reported "wildlife strikes" annually (over 13,000 in the U.S. alone), about 97% of these involve the bird hitting the fuselage, windshield, or wings rather than being ingested by the engine. Most modern jet engines are rigorously tested and certified to withstand the impact of a medium-sized bird without losing power. The greatest risk occurs during takeoff and landing, typically below 3,000 feet, where bird density is highest. While "The Miracle on the Hudson" is the most famous example of a dual-engine bird strike, the vast majority of these encounters end without the passengers even realizing a strike occurred. Airports employ various mitigation strategies, such as using pyrotechnics, trained raptors, and radar systems, to keep flocks away from flight paths and minimize the financial impact of these collisions, which costs the industry over $1.2 billion annually.