PIA suffered loss of millions of rupees due to bird strikes—with 29 bird hits reported in from Jan to May 2023 at domestic airports alone. Ten bird strikes were reported in May alone. Most of the incidents happened at Karachi and Lahore airports. Due to these strikes, seven planes were damaged. These incidents were reported at the airports of Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Sukkur, Quetta, Peshawar, Gilgit, and Multan.

Most of the bird strike incidents—16 in total—were reported at Karachi and Lahore airports. During the last five months, birds also hit PIA planes in Jeddah and Bahrain. Due to the bird strikes, seven aircraft were damaged. However, in 22 of these cases, the airplane did not suffer any damage.

Most incidents occurred during approach and landing processes; three bird strikes took place during takeoff while one incident occurred during takeoff roll.

According to the sources, the PIA has to bear heavy losses due to bird strikes as the affected planes are temporarily grounded. The passengers also face delays due to the aircraft going to the hangar for repairs. In most cases, such flights are cancelled.

The bird shooters of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) shoot birds in the airport’s funnel area—the takeoff, landing site. bird shooters are deployed on a regular basis during aerial operations at the takeoff and landing points to drive away the birds. The CAA spokesperson said the authority has issued a tender for installing modern bird repellency systems at the major airports of the country.

Due to certain factors like dumping of garbage near airports, birds often hover in the airspace, and become a threat to the planes taking off and landing.

Regular banners are put up to create awareness among residents of neighborhoods close to airports.

The CAA takes special measures on the occasion of Eidul Azha.

Bird hazard committee takes flight in Rawalpindi

Aims to remove bird cages from rooftops, prevent avian collisions with aircraft

In March 2024, the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) constituted a special committee to remove cages of birds from residential rooftops and other preventive measures in different parts of the city. The committee was set up under the chairmanship of the Director of Estate Management.

The meeting of the Bird Hazard Control Committee was held under the chairmanship of RDA Director General to take immediate measures to remove bird cages from the roofs of houses and other measures to prevent birds from colliding with planes in the air and causing accidents.

During the meeting, an officer of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) gave a presentation on bird hazards and garbage dumping threats to national assets. The meeting was informed that the presence of birds, particularly, pigeons, on heaps of garbage and other places besides incidents of firing in various locations of Rawalpindi, including Ali Nawaz Chowk, Tipu Road, near RIC Hospital, Dhok Khabba, and Rawal Road has become a genuine concern fit air traffic. The PAF official requested the removal of cages from the rooftops.

RDA DG clarified that the district administration and the Authority would take more steps in the Rawalpindi division and constituted a committee headed by Director Estate Management. He informed that 80 to 85% of cages have been removed so far and more will be eliminated on the identification of the PAF.

The RDA DG directed the committee that the RWMC should immediately hold a meeting with the Cantonment Board to clear the garbage heaps from various places and improve the sanitation system.

Regarding the firing incidents, a Rawalpindi police officer informed the participants that no incident of firing has been reported so far in 2024.

The DG also directed to start of an awareness campaign regarding the danger of kite flying in public and private schools.