Boeing 737 Hits Massive Locust Swarm, Pilots Perform Emergency Diversion | aviationbizz.com
An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 during its approach while going from Djibouti to Dire Dawa, Ethiopia flew through a massive swarm of desert locusts and received a huge number of insect impacts into engines, windshield and nose of the aircraft.
The pilots attempted to use the onboard wipers and washer fluid, but the high concentration of insects created a thick, opaque sludge that the wipers could not clear. After a failed first approach, the crew performed a “go-around” and climbed to 8,500 feet. They depressurized the cabin to a level safe for the altitude, opened the sliding side window of the cockpit, and physically reached out to manually clear a small section of the windshield to restore some visibility.
The second landing attempt at Dire Dawa was also unsuccessful because they encountered the swarm again. The crew ultimately diverted to Addis Ababa, where the aircraft landed safely about 30 minutes later.
About the Author
