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Pilot notified OAK Tower of Seagulls and then hits one departing

A pilot warns of seagulls on the runway, strikes one during takeoff, and declares an emergency.

2024-06-11 Oakland International Airport (OAK), California

Summary

ExecuJet 626 reported a bird hazard at Oakland International Airport before being cleared for takeoff on Runway 28 Right. Immediately after departure, the pilot confirmed a bird strike and reported engine vibrations, leading to an emergency declaration and a successful precautionary landing.

Analysis

This recording captures a textbook example of a bird strike incident and the subsequent emergency procedures. It begins with the pilot of ExecuJet 626 demonstrating high situational awareness by warning the tower about "a bunch of seagulls" on the runway while lining up for departure. The controller acknowledges that a previous pilot had also reported the hazard, but the flight proceeds with its takeoff clearance.

Shortly after rotation, the pilot informs the tower that they struck at least one bird and need to return to the airport. The situation escalates when the pilot declares an emergency, citing vibrations in the left engine—a clear sign that the bird was likely ingested into the engine, damaging the fan blades. This is a critical moment, as engine vibrations can lead to catastrophic failure if not managed quickly by reducing power or shutting the engine down.

The Oakland Tower controller provides excellent support, using local landmarks like the "880 freeway" to guide the pilot through a tight traffic pattern for a landing on the parallel runway (28 Left). This visual navigation assistance reduces the pilot's workload during a high-stress moment. The controller also coordinates with multiple emergency vehicles (Rescue 1, Rescue 17) and airport operations to ensure the runway is inspected for debris and the aircraft is shadowed upon landing.

The incident concludes safely, with the pilot choosing to taxi under their own power to the Signature FBO once they determine the aircraft is stable. This recording is notable for the clear communication between the cockpit and the tower, illustrating how pre-departure hazards can manifest into real emergencies and how professional coordination ensures a safe outcome.

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Original ATC Communication

Plain English Translation

OAK TOWER
ExecuJet 626, Oakland Tower. Runway 28 Right, line up and wait.
OAK TOWER
ExecuJet 626, this is Oakland Tower. Pull onto runway 28 Right and hold your position there.
EXECUJET 626
28 Right, line up and wait, ExecuJet 626. And be advised, there’s a bunch of seagulls on 28 Right.
EXECUJET 626
Moving onto 28 Right to wait, ExecuJet 626. And just a heads up, there is a large flock of seagulls right on the runway.
OAK TOWER
ExecuJet 626, a previous RV reported seagulls on runway 28 Right.
OAK TOWER
ExecuJet 626, a small plane that just flew through also reported seeing seagulls on 28 Right.
EXECUJET 626
626.
EXECUJET 626
Copy that, 626.
OAK TOWER
ExecuJet 626, wind 280 at 8. Runway 30—correction, runway 28 Right. Runway 28 Right, cleared for takeoff.
OAK TOWER
ExecuJet 626, the wind is coming from the west at 8 knots. Runway 30—sorry, I mean 28 Right. You are cleared for takeoff on 28 Right.
EXECUJET 626
Runway 28 Right, cleared for takeoff, ExecuJet 626.
EXECUJET 626
Cleared for takeoff on 28 Right, ExecuJet 626.
EXECUJET 626
And ExecuJet 626, we hit at least one of those seagulls. We’re going to have to come back around.
EXECUJET 626
Oakland, this is ExecuJet 626. We just hit at least one of those seagulls. We’re going to have to circle back and land immediately.
OAK TOWER
ExecuJet 626, do you need a vector for the approach, or do you want to cancel IFR? Are you declaring an emergency? Say intentions.
OAK TOWER
ExecuJet 626, do you want me to give you radar directions for the landing, or are you going to fly by sight? Are you officially declaring an emergency? Tell me what you need.
EXECUJET 626
Yeah, we’re going to go ahead and declare an emergency. We’ve got a left engine vibration, and we’ll—
EXECUJET 626
Yes, we are definitely declaring an emergency. Our left engine is vibrating badly, and we’ll—
OAK TOWER
ExecuJet 626, if able, make right traffic runway 28 Right and stay at or below 1,500 for traffic.
OAK TOWER
ExecuJet 626, if you’re able, turn right to circle back toward the runway and stay at or below 1,500 feet to stay clear of other planes.
EXECUJET 626
At or below 1,500, you said?
EXECUJET 626
Did you say stay at or below 1,500 feet?
OAK TOWER
At or below 1,500 for the bird.
OAK TOWER
That’s right, stay at or below 1,500 for your aircraft.
OAK TOWER
ExecuJet 626, continue your right turn. There’s a freeway off your right side called the 880 freeway. You can follow it southeast bound. It’ll put you on a base entry. Do you want runway 28 Right or 28 Left?
OAK TOWER
ExecuJet 626, keep your right turn going. There is a freeway off to your right side called the 880; follow it southeast. That will line you up for your final turn to the runway. Do you want the right or left runway?
EXECUJET 626
Let’s do 28 Left, ExecuJet 626.
EXECUJET 626
Let’s take the left one, 28 Left, ExecuJet 626.
OAK TOWER
ExecuJet 626, Roger. Runway 28 Left is 6,213 feet long. Wind 270 at 8, gusts 18. Runway 28 Left, cleared to land. No traffic in your way—they’re all above you.
OAK TOWER
ExecuJet 626, understood. Runway 28 Left is about 6,200 feet long. Wind is from the west at 8 knots, gusting up to 18. You are cleared to land on 28 Left. The path is clear—all other planes are staying high above you.
EXECUJET 626
Cleared to land 28 Left, ExecuJet 626.
EXECUJET 626
We have permission to land on the left runway, ExecuJet 626.
OAK TOWER
Say time and fuel and number of people on board.
OAK TOWER
Tell me the current time, how much fuel you have, and the number of people on board.
EXECUJET 626
We’ve got three souls on board and about five hours of gas.
EXECUJET 626
We have three people on board and about five hours of fuel remaining.
OAK TOWER
Rescue 1 on company, Roger. Tower 118.3. The emergency aircraft is probably about three miles to play.
OAK TOWER
Rescue 1, I hear you on the company radio. Switching to the main tower frequency. The plane in trouble is about three miles away from touching down.
EXECUJET 626
ExecuJet 626 is right base.
EXECUJET 626
ExecuJet 626 is making the final turn to line up with the runway.
OAK TOWER
ExecuJet 626, you’re cleared to land on runway 28 Left.
OAK TOWER
ExecuJet 626, you are officially authorized to land on the left runway.
EXECUJET 626
Cleared to land, ExecuJet 626.
EXECUJET 626
Authorized to land, ExecuJet 626.
OAK TOWER
Oakland altimeter 29.95. Wind again 280 at 8. Rescue vehicles, give me a call sign, please.
OAK TOWER
Oakland’s pressure setting for your altimeter is 29.95. Wind is still from the west at 8 knots. Emergency vehicles, please identify yourselves.
RESCUE 1
Rescue 1.
RESCUE 1
This is Rescue Unit 1.
OAK TOWER
Okay, I’ll talk to Rescue 1. Rescue 1, the emergency is on a four-mile final for runway 28 Left. Say intentions. Okay, two rescue vehicles are talking at the same time. Only 17—Rescue 17 only. Traffic three-mile final for 28 Left. Say intentions.
OAK TOWER
Okay, I’ll coordinate with Rescue 1. Rescue 1, the emergency plane is four miles out on its final approach to the left runway. What is your plan? Wait, two trucks are talking at once. Rescue 17, just you—the plane is three miles out. What do you need to do?
RESCUE 17
Rescue 17, I would like to chase the emergency aircraft.
RESCUE 17
Rescue 17 here, I want to follow right behind the plane as it lands.
OAK TOWER
Rescue 17, the aircraft is on a three-mile final for runway 28 Left. Behind that aircraft, you can proceed to runway 28 Left with your company.
OAK TOWER
Rescue 17, the plane is three miles from the left runway. Once it passes you, you and your team can pull onto that runway behind it.
RESCUE 17
Roger, following to 28 Left.
RESCUE 17
Understood, we are following them onto the left runway.
OAK TOWER
Airport 11, Oakland Tower. Say position.
OAK TOWER
Airport Unit 11, this is the tower. What is your current location?
AIRPORT 11
Oakland Airport 11, we’re at 28 Left at Bravo. We’d like to respond to runway 28 Left and do an inspection of the runway.
AIRPORT 11
Airport 11, we’re at the left runway by taxiway Bravo. We’d like to get out there and check the runway for any debris or damage.
OAK TOWER
Airport 11, proceed on runway 28 Left as requested with your company. And can we show runway 28 Left closed at this time?
OAK TOWER
Airport 11, you're clear to drive onto the left runway as you discussed with your team. And are we officially marking the left runway as closed to traffic for now?
AIRPORT 11
That’s correct. Show 28 Left closed.
AIRPORT 11
That’s right. Mark the left runway as closed.
OAK TOWER
Roger.
OAK TOWER
Understood.
OAK TOWER
ExecuJet 626, do you want to taxi under your own power? Say intentions.
OAK TOWER
ExecuJet 626, do you want to drive the plane on your own? Let us know what you're planning to do.
EXECUJET 626
Yeah, we’ll taxi under our own power. I don’t think we need the trucks anymore. We’re going to go right back to the FBO.
EXECUJET 626
Yeah, we’ll drive it ourselves. I don’t think we need the emergency trucks anymore. We’re just going to head straight back to the private flight terminal.
OAK TOWER
ExecuJet 626, Roger. Turn right, taxi via Juliet, hold short of runway 28 Right, and say parking.
OAK TOWER
ExecuJet 626, got it. Turn right, use the Juliet taxi path, stop just before you reach the right runway, and let us know where you're parking.
EXECUJET 626
We’re going to Signature. Taxi Juliet, hold short 28 Right, and thanks for the help.
EXECUJET 626
We’re heading to the Signature terminal. We'll take the Juliet path and stop before the right runway. Thanks for all the help.
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