Krueger, Kellner: Delta Airline Emergency Underscores Need to Cancel MTS Plans, Reduce Bird Strike Dangers

New York – Yesterday, a bird strike forced a Delta Air Lines flight outbound from John F. Kennedy Airport to return and make an emergency landing. Thankfully, Flight 1063's engine problems following the bird strike did not result in disaster, and the aircraft returned to the airport under its own power. New York State Senator Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan) and Assemblyman Micah Kellner (D-Manhattan) released the following statement in response:

“We all know New York City is crowded, and not just its streets and sidewalks. New York City’s sky is crowded, too – and while this bird strike occurred on a flight path out of JFK, it's a reminder that we need to work on mitigating the risks for all our airports. We agree with the Friends of LaGuardia Airport, former FAA officials who think that putting bird-attracting sanitation facilities in major flight paths is a bad idea. The planned North Shore and East 91st Street Marine Transfer Stations will attract more birds to LaGuardia's flight paths and increase the risks.”

Also of interest: Capt. Chesley Sullenberger, who famously landed a passenger aircraft in the Hudson River in 2009’s "Miracle on the Hudson" bird strike incident, appeared on CBS This Morning to give his insights on yesterday's incident, and voiced his opposition to the planned MTS sites as well.