Air Malta Expecting Delays This Weekend After Two Of Its Aircrafts Grounded
Air Malta is expecting delays this weekend after two separate bird strikes forced two of the airlines’ aircraft to be grounded.
Flight KM662 from Malta to Palermo earlier this afternoon was quickly called off when birds struck the plane during take-off at Malta International Airport, forcing it to land and be taken back to its stand.
No one was hurt during the incident, but the aircraft sustained considerable damage to one engine and the flight has been cancelled with customers offered full refunds or re-routings.
Another bird strike in London Gatwick has forced an Air Malta aircraft to be grounded, meaning that the airline is short-staffed this weekend and will struggle to make its schedule until the aircrafts are fit to fly again.
“Rejected take-offs are performed to maintain the highest level of safety in such situations,” Air Malta commented on the situation.