Aviation bird strike fatality: a case report

Airstrikes, particularly from birds, are the most common aviation occurrence according to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. Between 2014 and July 2025 there were approximately 17,565 bird strikes across Australia, the majority involving aeroplanes (commercial, recreational and military) and helicopters. The birds commonly involved were magpies, skylarks, pipits and plovers. The cities with the highest recorded bird strikes were Brisbane, Sydney, Darwin and Cairns. Despite the high frequency, aviation bird strikes rarely result in fatalities.