A small propeller plane struck a flock of birds upon takeoff in Alaska — leaving gruesome and bloody stains across the hull.
Mark Schwantes, a big game hunter and commercial fishing captain, was getting set to take flight in a bush plane to Alaska’s capital, Anchorage, on Sept. 26 when when he noticed a flock of willow ptarmigan, Alaska’s state bird, according to a report from SWNS.
“Typically, they scatter when a plane starts up, but this time, they lingered a bit too long,” the 48-year-old told the outlet.
of flying in front of a propeller plane. Mark Schwantes / SWNS
“Just as we were going airborne, about half a dozen flew up in front of us and hit the propeller.”
The unflappable pilot said he proceeded calmly and knew that his plane could withstand the bloody jolt.
misguided take-off. Mark Schwantes / SWNS
tells SWNS he has made countless similar flights. Mark Schwantes / SWNS
Though the plane proceeded without any known or visible damage — it was splattered with blood, brains, and feathers from the flock of willow ptarmigan.
“I was very surprised this has never happened to me before on all the bush takeoffs I’ve done,” Schwantes told SWNS. “It’s just one of those things you might see out here.”
Geese being sucked into an engine was the cause of the crash of US Airways Airbus A320 in 2009 — commonly referred to as the “Miracle on the Hudson.”
