Japan’s Government Identifies Baikal Teal as a Top Aircraft Collision Risk
The Government of Japan has identified the Baikal Teal as one of the most dangerous bird species when it comes to collisions with aircraft.
The Baikal Teal is a migratory bird that breeds in Russia and migrates to the Korean Peninsula, China, and Japan during winter.
Feathers and blood of these birds were found in the engines of a Jeju Air passenger plane last December, indicating a bird strike as a potential cause of the accident. The plane caught fire after making an emergency belly landing at Muan International Airport in southwestern South Korea, resulting in the deaths of all 179 passengers and crew.
According to an annual two-week survey conducted by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment in January, the number of Baikal Teal recorded in Japan increased more than sixfold, from approximately 20,000 birds in 2020 to over 140,000 in 2024.
NHK reported that, according to information from Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, a government committee specializing in bird strike issues classified the Baikal Teal as a “problem bird” in March this year.
The ministry sent a notification to 107 airports and helipads nationwide, requesting preventive measures. The notification stated that Baikal Teal have a tendency to fly in massive flocks, with multiple individuals potentially colliding with a single aircraft, and are likely to cause substantial damage upon impact.
Three airports in Japan, including Narita International Airport, have been specifically warned due to the recent presence of large flocks of these birds near lakes, marshes, and bays close to the airports. The ministry’s notification also urged air traffic controllers and pilots to be vigilant as this species is relatively easy to spot from a distance due to their habit of flying in large flocks that resemble a dark cloud.
Tuan Anh (ANTĐ)
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