Sir Elton John’s aircraft had to perform an unusual maneuver at the end of last month. The renowned pop icon, aged 78, was on board his Boeing 737 when the plane had to execute an “unorthodox” action while preparing for take-off at Farnborough Airport.

Pilot Duncan Gillespie faced a challenging situation during the incident and recounted a close call involving a “massive bird of prey” that swooped down towards the plane as it was departing for its intended destination of Paris, with Elton John and his family onboard.

Approaching the V1 speed of 160mph, which is the maximum speed allowing a safe takeoff abort, Gillespie had to make a critical decision. He described the moment when he spotted a large hawk descending towards them, possibly protecting its partner.

Having extensive experience flying Elton around the globe, Gillespie noted that it was his first time encountering such a scenario. He emphasized the necessity of his decision to avoid a potential disaster involving the bird and the aircraft’s engine.

Reflecting on the incident on his social media, Gillespie explained how he delayed takeoff to maneuver below the bird, a decision he and his colleague believed prevented a catastrophic engine failure due to the hawk.

Despite the unconventional nature of the action taken, Gillespie stands by his choice, stating that it averted a major incident and saved millions in potential damages. He expressed pride in the human judgment that prevented a dangerous situation for Elton John and his family.

This incident adds to a history of aviation challenges for Elton John; in a previous incident in 2022, his private jet had to make an emergency landing due to a hydraulic failure at 10,000ft, resulting in a tense situation before successfully landing after several attempts.