KANSAS CITY, Mo. – When Frontier Airlines Flight No. 820 struck a flock of birds departing Kansas City International Airport Saturday night, the flight’s 129 passengers knew they’d be in for a rough landing.
But after the plane’s crew guided the damaged jet back to the airport, NBC Action News caught up with a few of the plane’s passengers to get their reaction on the bird strike.
Those Frontier passengers started as early as 6:35 a.m. hoping to find other flights. Another flight left the airport at 10:20 a.m.
Passengers Mel and Angela Cordero made sure they were going to be on that flight back home to Denver. The couple was returning from Mexico.
"Puerto Vallarta was awesome,” Angela Cordero said. “We had four great nights. My mom agreed to take the kids," We thought we would have a relaxing trip.”
But the ride was anything but relaxing flying into KCI. She said the plane lost altitude quickly and then shot back up suddenly. Then the plane made another run at making a safe landing.
"We were pretty shaken up,” said Angela.
Her husband Mel was calmer but felt something strange had just happened.
"It felt like a roller coaster, but it was twice as dramatic," Mel Cordero said.
The two thought their ordeal was over until they left on the
same plane bearing the images of two polar bear cubs named Klondike and Snow. The plane took off and they quickly realized something was wrong.
"I'm in row 12, right by the wing. And we heard a big thud. It seemed like another thud right after that. And I could see the flames shooting out of the engine,” said Angela. "It was pretty scary.”
"This one squeaked,' said Mel pointing to his wife.” Right away I said I can't go out the right wing. So I need to go to the left. The guy next to me started praying," he added.
Smoke filled the plane and then quickly disappeared. Passengers report hearing several thuds against the plane. They believe migrated Canadian Geese were to blame. It landed with no injuries to the 129 passengers.
Airport spokesperson Kathleen Hefner says the feathers of the geese, which were all that remained from the strike, will be sent to the Smithsonian Institution for analysis.
