Big scare for passengers on PE-Johannesburg flight

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

BA flight 6232 from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg made a precautionary landing at PE airport on Thursday morning, after a bird struck one of the engine bays shortly after take off.

Port Elizabeth businessman Etienne Harmse says the flight took off at 06:35 and that they heard a loud bang as they became airborne.

He says a strong electrical burn smell then filled the cabin and they were advised by the captain that they'd have to turn back as the plane had struck a bird.

Harmse says the landing was no different to a normal landing, but that it was still a rather scary experience for everyone on board.

"When the smell went through the engine compartment, I think it kind of raised a few eyelids, but when the captain came back and said it was just a bird that went through the engine, by and large it maybe felt a bit safer that it wasn't a tyre. Coming back was fine, it really wasn't an issue, it was more a precautionary measure." says Harmse