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.
Blood stains left by the flock of birds that made the fatal mistake
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.
Passengers capture the grizzly outcome of the willow ptarmigans
misguided take-off. Mark Schwantes / SWNS
No damage was done to the plane, according to Schwantes, who
tells SWNS he has made countless similar flights. Mark Schwantes / SWNSThough the plane proceeded without any known or visible damage — it was splattered with blood, brains, and feathers from the flock of willow ptarmigan.
A panoramic view of Alaska’s capital city, Anchorage, at sunrise. Universal Images Group via Getty Images“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.”
