An Iberia airline plane, an Airbus A321XLR, was forced to make an emergency return to Madrid airport on Sunday after colliding with a bird a few minutes after takeoff.
The plane, which was heading to Orly Airport in Paris, suffered damage to the aircraft's nose and left engine after the bird first hit the front and then was sucked into the engine.
The pilots followed emergency protocols, informed the control tower and made a safe landing about 20 minutes after the incident.
According to reports, the plane was one of the youngest in Iberia's fleet. Videos and photos posted on social media clearly show the damage caused by the crash.
Aviation experts point out that bird strikes are relatively common, especially during takeoff and landing, when planes fly at lower altitudes and there is more bird presence.
