An Air Europa flight suffered a significant incident at Palma de Mallorca, Spain caused by a bird strike on May 8th 2026.
An Air Europa Boeing 737-800, registration EC‑MPG, operating flight UX‑6079 from Madrid to Palma Mallorca, experienced a bird strike during its final approach to runway 06L at Palma Mallorca Airport.
The impact struck the aircraft’s nose gear, damaging the steering mechanism.
Despite the damage, the aircraft touched down normally but veered to the right during rollout, exiting the runway at approximately 55 knots before coming to a stop on a high‑speed turnoff opposite the runway.
Emergency services responded swiftly, and passengers disembarked safely after the aircraft was towed to the apron.
According to ADS‑B data, the touchdown appeared routine, with the deviation occurring as the aircraft decelerated.
The data shows a gradual drift to the right, culminating in the runway excursion.
The aircraft remained stationary for around 40 minutes before being moved.
Local media initially reported that the aircraft had lost a wheel upon landing, a claim later linked to the damage caused by the bird strike rather than a mechanical failure.
Following the incident, the aircraft was grounded in Palma Mallorca for approximately 20.5 hours while maintenance teams assessed and repaired the damage.
The left‑hand nose tyre was confirmed damaged, consistent with the steering mechanism failure.
Once cleared, the aircraft returned to service without further issues. The prompt recovery underscores Air Europa’s robust maintenance and safety protocols.