Date: 19th October 2024
Location: Salzburg, Austria
Aircraft: Airbus A319-100, registration D-AIBA
Flight Number: LH-1108
Operator: Lufthansa
Flight Route: Frankfurt/Main (Germany) to Salzburg (Austria)
Passengers: Undisclosed
Crew: Undisclosed
Summary of Events
On 19th October 2024, Lufthansa Flight LH-1108, an Airbus A319-100, encountered a serious incident during its final approach to Salzburg’s Runway 15. While descending on the Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach, the aircraft collided with a flock of birds. The impact caused immediate damage to the aircraft’s critical airspeed sensors, leading to unreliable airspeed indications. The crew promptly aborted the approach, declared a Mayday, and initiated a missed approach procedure. Without reliable airspeed data, the crew had to manually fly the aircraft under challenging conditions, diverting to Munich Airport, where the aircraft landed safely.
The incident took place in clear weather conditions but required the crew to execute complex emergency procedures as they no longer had access to their primary airspeed information. Furthermore, the aircraft experienced a transponder failure, which prevented it from transmitting its altitude during the diversion. Despite these challenges, the crew successfully managed the situation and brought the aircraft down safely at Munich Airport’s Runway 26R, where emergency services were on standby.
Passengers were informed of the bird strike and subsequent loss of airspeed indicators. The crew instructed them to brace for landing in Munich due to the aircraft’s compromised systems.
Aircraft and Crew Information
The Airbus A319-100 is a short- to medium-range, narrow-body commercial jetliner, widely used across Europe. It is part of the Airbus A320 family, known for its advanced avionics and reliability in both routine and emergency operations. The specific aircraft involved in the incident, registered D-AIBA, had completed several thousand flight hours prior to the event.
At the time of the incident, the A319 was equipped with sophisticated navigation systems, including Pitot tubes and static ports responsible for providing crucial airspeed data. These systems are susceptible to damage from external factors such as bird strikes, and when compromised, can cause unreliable or incorrect readings.
The crew aboard LH-1108 were highly experienced, as is standard with Lufthansa, one of Europe’s leading airlines. Although the exact flight hours of the captain and first officer are not disclosed, Lufthansa maintains rigorous training standards, particularly for handling emergency situations like those encountered during this incident.
Sequence of Events
The flight departed from Frankfurt/Main Airport on schedule, bound for Salzburg, Austria. The aircraft’s approach to Salzburg’s Runway 15 began as planned under visual and instrument conditions. During the final descent, the aircraft collided with a flock of birds, which struck various parts of the airframe, including critical sensors such as the Pitot tubes and air data probes. The result was a complete loss of reliable airspeed data.
Upon recognising the unreliable airspeed indications, the crew immediately initiated a missed approach. They declared a Mayday to air traffic control (ATC) and informed them of their inability to accurately assess their airspeed. Without this critical information, flying becomes significantly more challenging, as airspeed is vital for maintaining safe aircraft operation, especially during landing.
The flight crew executed their emergency operating procedures, diverting the aircraft toward Munich, the nearest large international airport capable of handling such an emergency. During the diversion, the aircraft’s transponder also malfunctioned, ceasing to broadcast altitude data to ATC. When queried by ATC, the crew confirmed that this loss of altitude reporting was part of their emergency procedures, and they were flying manually at an altitude of FL100 (10,000 feet).
Despite the additional pressure of losing altitude information, the flight crew remained in control of the aircraft and prepared for an emergency landing at Munich. Emergency services at Munich Airport were placed on high alert, and the aircraft was given priority clearance to land on Runway 26R, which was prepared for the emergency arrival. The flight landed safely, and the passengers disembarked without further incident.
Investigation and Analysis
The immediate cause of the incident was determined to be a bird strike that occurred during the aircraft’s final approach to Salzburg. Birds can pose a significant hazard to aircraft, particularly when they strike critical components such as the Pitot tubes or engine intakes. In this case, the impact likely obstructed the Pitot tubes, leading to unreliable airspeed readings for the flight crew.
Airspeed data is one of the most essential pieces of information for safe flight. Without accurate airspeed indications, pilots must rely on manual flying skills, using alternative data such as engine power settings and attitude indicators to ensure the aircraft remains within a safe flight envelope. In this situation, the crew had to rely on their extensive training and experience to manage the flight manually without key data.
Additionally, the malfunction of the transponder created further complications. ATC relies on transponder information, such as altitude and speed, to monitor and control air traffic. The loss of this data heightened the challenge of the diversion, as the crew had to communicate manually with ATC to ensure proper coordination with other aircraft and airspace management.
Passengers later reported that the crew had informed them of the bird strike and the subsequent system failures, including the loss of airspeed indications and electrical issues. The crew’s calm and professional handling of the situation contributed to a successful emergency landing without further incident.
Conclusions
The bird strike that affected Lufthansa Flight LH-1108 on 19th October 2024 resulted in a critical loss of airspeed data, forcing the crew to abandon their landing approach into Salzburg and divert to Munich. The crew’s swift decision to initiate a missed approach and declare an emergency, combined with their manual flying skills, ensured the safe landing of the aircraft despite the failure of vital systems.
The incident highlights the ongoing risks posed by bird strikes in aviation, particularly when they affect critical sensors like Pitot tubes. In this case, the crew’s training and adherence to emergency procedures were vital in preventing a more serious outcome. The malfunction of the transponder during the flight added another layer of complexity to the emergency but was managed effectively through clear communication between the crew and air traffic control.
While bird strikes are a known hazard in aviation, this incident underscores the importance of robust procedures for handling unreliable airspeed data and other system failures that can arise in such scenarios.
Recommendations
In light of this incident, the following recommendations have been made to improve safety and mitigate the risks of future similar events:
1. Enhanced Bird Detection Systems: Airports should continue to improve and expand bird detection and deterrence systems, particularly in areas prone to bird activity during critical phases of flight, such as takeoff and landing. This includes deploying advanced radar systems that can track bird movements and prevent aircraft from entering dangerous zones.
2. Redundancy for Airspeed Sensors: Aircraft manufacturers should explore further redundancy measures for airspeed sensors to ensure that bird strikes or other external factors do not compromise multiple sensors simultaneously. This could include reinforcing the protection around Pitot tubes or developing more advanced backup systems.
3. Pilot Training for Manual Flight: Continued emphasis should be placed on pilot training for manual flight operations, particularly in scenarios where primary instruments such as airspeed indicators fail. Lufthansa’s crew demonstrated excellent skill in manually flying the aircraft, and this training should remain a focus for all airlines.
4. Communication Protocols for System Failures: ATC should be equipped with enhanced communication protocols to handle situations where aircraft systems, such as transponders, fail. In this case, the loss of altitude information could have created further risks had the situation not been managed effectively. Ensuring that ATC is prepared for such emergencies is crucial.
Safety Lessons and Industry Impact
The incident involving Lufthansa Flight 1108 highlights several important safety lessons for the aviation industry. First, bird strikes remain a significant risk to flight operations, particularly when they damage critical flight instruments like Pitot tubes. The impact of this event demonstrates the importance of ongoing efforts to minimise the risk of bird strikes near airports through advanced detection systems and environmental management.
Second, the situation underscores the value of rigorous pilot training in emergency procedures. The crew’s ability to fly manually without reliable airspeed data and manage multiple system failures is a testament to the effectiveness of Lufthansa’s safety protocols and pilot training programs. This incident serves as a reminder to airlines worldwide of the importance of preparing flight crews for worst-case scenarios.
Finally, the effective communication between the flight crew and ATC was instrumental in managing the situation. The crew’s ability to convey critical information about their altitude and flight status, despite the loss of transponder data, ensured that ATC could provide the necessary support and prepare Munich Airport for an emergency landing.
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