Air China C919 jet sustains minor damage after bird strike

The incident, captured on camera near a popular planespotting location, has underscored the real-world reliability tests facing the C919 model as it sees wider deployment. Passengers reported a brief delay before disembarking, with mentions of "scars" on the aircraft.

The C919, bearing registration B-652Z, was delivered to the Chinese flag carrier by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) in September 2022. Flight-tracking data indicates the jet has not operated since Sunday and has reportedly been pulled from service for inspections.

This is not the first bird strike incident involving a Comac jet. In October 2024, a newly delivered C919 narrowbody experienced a similar event while landing in Xian, northwestern China. That aircraft was cleared to resume operations within two days after thorough checks.