Created Tuesday, May 18th 2021 16:58Z, last updated Tuesday, May 18th 2021 16:58Z
An AeroContractors Boeing 737-500, registration 5N-BKR performing flight
AJ-382 from Port Harcourt to Abuja (Nigeria) with 85 passengers and 6 crew, was accelerating for takeoff from Port Harcourt when above V1 an engine (CFM56) ingested a bird and received blade damage. The crew continued takeoff, climbed the aircraft to safe altitude and returned to Port Harcourt for a safe landing about 8 minutes after departure.
Nigeria's CAA reported the aircraft struck a bird while accelerating for takeoff, the crew continued takeoff, flew a circuit and returned for a safe landing. The engine received blade damage. At the time the bird strike occurred, the crew was expected to (and did) not reject takeoff, but to continue the takeoff. The operator supplied a replacement aircraft within 90 minutes, which took the passengers to Abuja.
A replacement Boeing 737-500 registration 5N-BLE reached Abuja with a total delay of 5.5 hours after 5N-BKR had arrived into Port Harcourt with more than 3.5 hours delay.
