Griffon vulture disrupts takeoff of airplane in Crete

An unexpected incident delayed the takeoff of an airplane at Heraklion Airport on the Greek holiday island of Crete. A griffon vulture had settled comfortably on the wing of the ready-to-take-off aircraft and refused to fly. According to reports from the Cretan online newspaper Patris, the animal was spotted by the pilot, who then informed the tower.

After notifying the tower, rescue crews were immediately dispatched to the runway. Firefighters arrived to deal with the situation. The pilot also attempted to encourage the bird to fly away by manipulating the control surfaces, but without success.

Emergency personnel approached the griffon vulture with the help of a ladder and tried to remove it from the wing. Reports suggest that the firefighters were ultimately successful in capturing the bird, allowing the flight to eventually proceed.

The situation caused a degree of unrest among both passengers and flight staff. Despite the delay, there were no further complications.

Birds, especially large species like griffon vultures, can occasionally lead to such incidents when they are present near airports. Such obstacles must be swiftly removed to ensure smooth flight operations.

The Cretan authorities have not provided any further information regarding the condition of the bird or about possible measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.