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Re Virgin America 837 emergency landing SFO

Virgin America flight 837 declares an emergency after striking a flock of seagulls departing San Francisco.

2007-09-04 San Francisco International Airport (SFO), California

Summary

Shortly after departing San Francisco International Airport, Redwood 837 (Virgin America) reported hitting multiple seagulls and declared an emergency. The flight crew requested an immediate return to the field, leveling off at 3,000 feet to manage the situation. Air Traffic Control provided priority vectors for a landing on Runway 28 Right while coordinating nearby traffic.

Analysis

This recording captures a bird strike incident involving Virgin America Flight 837 (using the callsign "Redwood") on September 4, 2007. The incident occurred during the airline's first month of operation, as Virgin America only began flights in August 2007. Shortly after takeoff from Runway 1 Left at SFO, the crew reported striking approximately three seagulls. Bird strikes are a significant aviation hazard, particularly during takeoff and landing, as they can cause substantial engine damage or structural issues.

Upon realizing the impact, the flight crew demonstrated textbook emergency procedures. They interrupted their climb to the assigned flight level of 19,000 feet, electing to level off at 3,000 feet. This decision allowed the pilots to stabilize the aircraft, assess engine instruments for signs of damage or vibration, and perform necessary checklists without the added workload of a steep climb. The pilot's tone remains remarkably calm and professional throughout the exchange, which is characteristic of high-level flight training.

The Air Traffic Controller (ATC) at NorCal Departure immediately prioritized the emergency. The controller provided a right turn to a heading of 120 degrees to begin vectoring the aircraft back toward the airport's primary landing runways (the 28s). A key technical moment occurs when the controller asks if the aircraft needs to dump fuel. Most commercial jets have a Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) that is significantly higher than their Maximum Landing Weight (MLW). If an aircraft must land shortly after takeoff, it may be "overweight," potentially stressing the landing gear or requiring a high-speed approach. The pilot declined, indicating they were "good on fuel" and ready to land immediately.

The incident highlights the routine but dangerous nature of wildlife hazards at coastal airports like San Francisco. While this specific event ended safely with a return to the airport, it serves as a reminder of the risks that led to more famous incidents, such as the "Miracle on the Hudson" (US Airways 1549) just two years later. The coordination between the Redwood crew and NorCal Departure ensured that the emergency was handled with minimal disruption to the busy SFO traffic flow.

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Original ATC Communication

Plain English Translation

REDWOOD 837
Departure, Redwood 837.
REDWOOD 837
Departure control, this is Redwood 837 calling in.
ATC
Delta 1053, restricted traffic, ten o’clock, one-five miles, left to right at 13,000. It’s a heavy jet. Contact approach 124.32. Good morning.
ATC
Delta 1053, watch for another plane to your left, 15 miles out, crossing at 13,000 feet. It’s a large, heavy aircraft. Call the approach controllers on 124.32. Good morning.
DELTA 1053
124.32, Delta 1053. Good day.
DELTA 1053
Switching to 124.32, Delta 1053. Have a good day.
ATC
Redwood 837, departure, radar contact. Climb and maintain flight level 190. State altitude.
ATC
Redwood 837, I have you on my radar. Climb up and stay at 19,000 feet. Tell me your current altitude.
REDWOOD 837
Okay, we’re out of 1,700. We’re going to level off at about 3,000. We’d like to declare an emergency. We hit a flock of seagulls after departure.
REDWOOD 837
Okay, we’re passing 1,700 feet, but we’re going to stop our climb and level off at 3,000. We need to declare an emergency. We hit a flock of seagulls right after taking off.
ATC
State nature of emergency.
ATC
Understood, tell me the exact nature of your emergency.
REDWOOD 837
It looks like we hit about three seagulls just off the departure end of 1 Left. We’d like to come back around for 28 Right.
REDWOOD 837
It looks like we hit about three seagulls right at the end of runway 1 Left. We’d like to circle back and land on runway 28 Right.
ATC
Redwood 837, Roger. Turn right heading 120. This will be vectors to Runway 28 Right final approach course.
ATC
Redwood 837, copy that. Turn right to a compass heading of 120. I’ll give you steering directions to line you up for the final landing path to runway 28 Right.
REDWOOD 837
Heading 120, Redwood 837.
REDWOOD 837
Turning to heading 120, Redwood 837.
DELTA 1053
NorCal, Delta 1053, say again frequency.
DELTA 1053
Northern California control, this is Delta 1053, could you repeat that radio frequency for me?
ATC
Delta 1053, approach on 124.32. Good morning.
ATC
Delta 1053, talk to the approach controllers on 124.32. Good morning.
DELTA 1053
Thank you.
DELTA 1053
Thank you.
ATC
Redwood 837, there’s a runway 1 departure northbound over the bay, stopping at 2,000 for you.
ATC
Redwood 837, there’s another plane taking off from runway 1 heading north over the bay, but I’m keeping them down at 2,000 feet to stay out of your way.
REDWOOD 837
All right, yeah, we’re stopping here at three.
REDWOOD 837
All right, copy that, we’re holding steady here at 3,000 feet.
ATC
Redwood 837, when you get a chance, number of persons on board and fuel?
ATC
Redwood 837, when you have a spare second, how many people do you have on board and how much fuel is left?
REDWOOD 837
Yeah, standby on that.
REDWOOD 837
Yeah, give us a moment on that.
ATC
JetBlue 241, turn left heading 170. Go direct SIGLO when you’re able.
ATC
JetBlue 241, turn left to a compass heading of 170 degrees. Fly straight to the SIGLO navigation point as soon as you're able.
JETBLUE 241
Heading 170, direct SIGLO, JetBlue 241.
JETBLUE 241
Turning to 170, then straight to SIGLO, JetBlue 241.
ATC
JetBlue 7755, turn left heading 120. When able, go direct Avalon.
ATC
JetBlue 7755, turn left to a heading of 120. When you're ready, fly a straight line to the Avalon waypoint.
JETBLUE 7755
120 when able, direct Avalon, JetBlue 7755.
JETBLUE 7755
Heading 120 when we can, then straight to Avalon, JetBlue 7755.
ATC
Redwood 837, turn right heading 130.
ATC
Redwood 837, turn right to a compass heading of 130 degrees.
REDWOOD 837
Right turn 130, Redwood 837.
REDWOOD 837
Right turn to 130, Redwood 837.
ATC
Redwood 837, did you want to go right back into the field? You don’t have to dump any fuel or anything?
ATC
Redwood 837, are you planning to head straight back to the airport? You don’t need to circle to dump fuel to lighten the plane first?
REDWOOD 837
No, we’re good on fuel. We’d just like to come back and land, Redwood 837.
REDWOOD 837
No, our weight is fine. We’d just like to get back to the airport and land, Redwood 837.
ATC
Redwood 837, thank you. Redwood 837, contact approach 133.95 when you get a chance. Let them know the persons on board and fuel.
ATC
Redwood 837, thank you. Switch over to the approach controllers on frequency 133.95 when you have a chance. Let them know how many people are on board and your fuel status.
REDWOOD 837
You bet. 33.95, we’ll see you.
REDWOOD 837
You bet. Over to 133.95, talk to you later.
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