[imagesource: Twitter / Fabricio Darosci Jr]

An Airlink aircraft flying passengers from Johannesburg to Limpopo was struck by a large bird that sent the smashed propeller hurtling through a cabin window.

The accident happened last Monday (January 3), but you might have been one of the lucky few still holidaying it up and missed it.

The Airlink Jetstream JS-41 was whacked by the bird shortly before landing at the Venetia Mine airfield. Despite substantial damage to the aircraft, the pilots managed a safe landing.

Luckily nobody was hurt except the poor bird.

Some images were posted on Twitter showing the damage, including a shattered cabin window, a threadbare propeller, and debris strewn across the seats and aisles:

Image: Twitter / Fabricio Darosci Jr

Is it just me or does that propeller look like a chewed up piece of biltong?

Image: Twitter / Fabricio Darosci Jr

Image: Twitter / Fabricio Darosci Jr

It is truly a miracle that no one was seated in that unfortunate spot by the propeller.

The South African reported that the bird is believed to be a kori bustard, which can weigh up to 19 kilograms as a fully grown male:

Image: inaturalist.org

Yeah, that would hurt.

Here’s the airline with more via The Independent:

“In compliance with aviation protocols and regulations, the occurrence was reported to the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) which will conduct an investigation.

“The aircraft remains at Venetia airfield pending the SACAA’s inspection and a full damage assessment.”

Bird strikes are no joke and are estimated to cost airlines over $1 billion a year in damage and delays.

[sources:independent&southafrican]