A Uganda Airlines flight en route from Johannesburg to Entebbe was forced to make an emergency return this morning after a bird strike shattered part of the aircraft’s windscreen mid-air.
This incident happened today March 3rd 2026 after Flight UR713 had departed O.R. Tambo International Airport but turned back approximately 45 minutes after take-off following the incident.
According to a statement from Uganda Airlines, the flight crew immediately aborted the journey and safely returned the aircraft to Johannesburg, with all passengers and crew on board unharmed.
“About 45 minutes into the flight, a bird strike damaged the windscreen, so the pilots made a call in line with standard safety protocols, to turn back to Johannesburg. Everyone on board was kept safe, which is always our top priority,” the national airlines stated.
One of the passengers, Simon Kaheru, via his X (Twitter) official page commended the professionalism of the flight crew, noting that the captain handled the situation with calm precision.
“Grateful to God and to the calm professionalism of Capt. Tonny Tebajanga of Uganda Airlines. Moments after leaving Johannesburg, a bird strike shattered part of the windscreen mid-air, but he remained composed and expertly flew us safely back,” Kaheru said.
“Kudos are due to the cabin crew, who remained composed and professional throughout the incident. Despite moments of visible shock, they adhered strictly to safety protocols behind the scenes; actions that ultimately helped save many lives,” he added.
Uganda Airlines said affected passengers would be assisted with alternative travel arrangements as the aircraft undergoes a thorough technical inspection.
Bird strikes continue to pose a persistent and frequently underestimated risk in global aviation.
According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), over 20,000 bird strikes are reported annually worldwide, though many more go unreported.
The danger is most acute during take-off, climb, and landing phases when aircraft are flying at lower altitudes where birds are most active.
While modern jet engines and windshields are rigorously tested to withstand bird impacts, strikes can still cause catastrophic damage, including engine flameout, shattered cockpit windows, hydraulic system failure, or even complete loss of control.
Large birds such as geese, vultures, and marabou storks common near Entebbe’s wetland environment pose the greatest risk.
As air traffic increases across Africa, airlines and airports are investing in radar-based bird detection, habitat management, and wildlife control measures but as today’s incident shows, no system can eliminate the risk entirely.
