A Jet2 flight originating from Yorkshire had to conduct an emergency landing following a reported bird strike shortly after departure. The incident occurred on Flight LS443 heading to Heraklion on the Greek island of Crete, which took off from Leeds Bradford at approximately 9 am on Monday. After colliding with a bird, the plane was forced to abort its ascent, eventually landing safely at Manchester Airport at 9.53 am.

A passenger named Alex, hailing from Baildon, recounted hearing a loud bang and detecting a burning smell of feathers and flesh on the aircraft. The flight circled at 10,000 feet north of Manchester Airport for about an hour before landing. Emergency crews inspected the engine and landing gear upon arrival in Manchester, where passengers disembarked and transferred to another A320. The replacement flight departed from Manchester around lunchtime.

In the aftermath of the incident, the Boeing 737-800 aircraft maintained a level flight at approximately 4,500 feet, with pilots assessing the damage while circling at a lower altitude. Alex commended the Jet2 crew for their handling of the situation, noting regular updates from the cockpit that reassured passengers and outlined the plan. He also appreciated the provision of complimentary drinks on the subsequent flight, praising Jet2 for their outstanding response to the emergency.

The Mirror reached out to Jet2 for a statement regarding the incident.