{"id":106418,"date":"2025-08-04T16:04:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T10:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=106418"},"modified":"2025-08-04T15:07:48","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T09:37:48","slug":"iberia-a321xlr-suffers-damage-after-bird-strike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/04\/iberia-a321xlr-suffers-damage-after-bird-strike\/","title":{"rendered":"Iberia New A321XLR Suffers Damage After Bird Strike, Makes U-Turn to Madrid"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

MADRID-<\/strong> An Iberia (IB)<\/a> Airbus A321XLR sustained significant nose section damage after a bird strike shortly following takeoff from Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD), forcing an emergency return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The aircraft was operating flight IB579<\/strong> to Paris Orly Airport (ORY) when the incident occurred. No injuries were reported, and the aircraft landed safely back in Madrid on August 3, 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Iberia
Photo: Unknown<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Iberia A321XLR Bird Strike<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The bird strike took place shortly after takeoff, prompting the pilots to declare an emergency. The Airbus A321XLR<\/a> involved in flight IB579 turned back to Adolfo Su\u00e1rez Madrid\u2013Barajas Airport (MAD), where it landed without further incident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The collision caused visible and substantial damage to the aircraft\u2019s nose radome\u2014the rounded section at the front of the plane that houses the weather radar antenna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both the radome and the radar system are essential for detecting and navigating through adverse weather conditions. Without them, continuing the flight was not possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Iberia Airbus A321XLR aircraft (EC-OOJ) was forced to return back to Barajas after a bird strike shortly after takeoff earlier today.

The aircraft was operating flight IB579 to Paris (ORY), when it suffered the bird strike damaging the nose Radome and the weather radar antenna.\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/Kccb6prohF<\/a><\/p>— FL360aero (@fl360aero) August 3, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>