Bird strikes do not usually cause serious damage to the aircraft, but the collision is fatal to the birds most of the time....

An American Airlines Airbus A319-100, with registration N836AW, was flying from San Jose, CA to Phoenix, AZ. During the approach to Phoenix, a bird hit the nose cone of the aircraft. The plane landed safely on runway 07R in Phoenix.

Do birds pose a threat to aviation safety?
In a study published , which specializes in aviation affairs, bird strikes pose a major threat to aviation safety and can lead to human injuries. However, it is estimated that there is only one fatality due to bird strikes every billion flight hours.

According to the study, “Bird strikes do not usually cause serious damage to the aircraft, but the collision is fatal to the birds most of the time. The majority of accidents caused by bird strikes occur when the bird enters the engine of a jet aircraft or when it flies toward the windshield.”

The cost of these accidents to commercial airlines around the world is estimated at up to $1.2 billion annually, and $400 million in the United States alone, according to the study.

How do bird strikes destroy planes?
90% of bird strikes occur at or near an airport while the aircraft is landing, taking off, or at a low altitude. The amount of damage a bird causes to an aircraft depends on the size, weight, and speed of the bird and the aircraft. The heavier and faster the bird, the greater the potential damage to the aircraft.

Bird strikes often damage engines and the frontal areas of the aircraft such as the windshield and nose cone, the latter of which can cause serious damage, but are rarely a reason for canceling a flight.