A suspected bird collision with a Chinese-made C909 regional jet in Beijing has reportedly left some marks on the plane’s nose and fuselage, but experts said the likelihood of any serious damage is very low.
The incident highlights the real-life reliability tests the model faces as it is rolled out more widely at home and abroad, according to observers.
China Airlines flight CA1150, coming from Ordos in Inner Mongolia, collided with a large bird while approaching Beijing Capital International Airport on Sunday evening. The incident, which occurred near a popular lookout point, was captured on camera.
The plane continued its descent and landed safely in the crowded center. Social media posts, allegedly from passengers, indicated a short delay before they were allowed off the plane, and there were references to “scars” on the fuselage.
The C909, with registration number B-652Z, was delivered to the Chinese airline by Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) in September 2022. It has reportedly been withdrawn from service since Sunday for inspections, and flight tracking platforms showed no subsequent operations.
This was not the first incident of its kind involving a COMAC aircraft. In October 2024, a newly delivered C919 narrow-body aircraft collided with a bird while landing in Xi’an in northwest China. That plane was approved to resume operations within two days, after careful checks.
