Three Birds Strike Hawaiian Air Plane

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Passengers scheduled to depart Hawaiian Air Friday night did not leave until Saturday evening due to the second consecutive bird strike of a Hawaiian Air plane at Pago Pago International Airport.

The Friday night flight which arrived from Honolulu on time was struck by a nest of birds.

Hawaiian Air spokeswoman Ann Botticelli, said from Honolulu that three birds were involved, two of them plovers.

Passengers on board the incoming flight said they heard a thu , which they only learned after the plane landed, was a bird strike.

Outgoing travelers who had already checked in and waiting in the departure lounge to board the flight to Honolulu, had to return home or to their hotels after collecting their luggage.

This was the same case for Monday’ night’s Hawaiian Air flight.

A bird strike forced the cancellation of the return flight to Honolulu while the airline ferried in an aircraft to pick up the affected passengers, and bring down a mechanic to fix the aircraft.

Early Saturday morning, Hawaiian Air’s Local Station Manager Tuli Fruean contacted KHJ News for announcements about the new departure time for affected passengers.

This after the airline was able to locate an aircraft to be ferried here  to uplift them.

The ferried plane arrived late Saturday afternoon and departed for Honolulu after 7 that night.

The aircraft that was struck by birds was repaired and left Pago Pago international Airport yesterday morning.

Botticelli says Hawaiian Air is in communication with the Airport Division in American Samoa and will work with them to deal with the bird problem.

KHJ News is seeking  information on why only Hawaiian Air planes are being struck by birds and not Military Airlift Command (MAC) planes and other US Government aircraft frequently landing at Pago Pago International Airport.

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