Birds keep smashing into planes at Bangladesh airports and officials refuse to fix the deadly problem. Two major airlines barely escaped disaster when birds crashed into their engines during takeoff. A Turkish Airlines jet caught fire midair after a bird strike but the pilot saved all 290 people on board. Another plane had to turn around and make an emergency landing after birds damaged its engine. Aviation safety experts warn that people will die if the government keeps ignoring this crisis.
The fancy bird monitoring system at Dhaka airport sits completely broken after officials spent millions on it. One camera stopped working and the main computer has been dead for months. Workers plan to ship the entire system to Italy for repairs but have no backup plan. The laser lights that scared birds at night also stopped working long ago. Gas cannons make loud noises every ten minutes but birds ignore them during daylight hours.
Airport staff only have one working gun to shoot problem birds when they should have twenty. Three bird control workers try to cover the entire airport with help from two air force shooters. The military shooters disappear during holidays and VIP visits leaving the airport defenseless. Green areas around the airport attract bugs and fish that draw hungry birds. Food waste scattered everywhere makes the problem even worse.
Bangladesh airports see bird strikes at three times the global average rate. Aviation experts say the country needs modern chemical sprays and better equipment to solve the crisis. Recent emergency meetings produced promises to buy more guns and hire more workers. Officials admit birds will keep coming unless they eliminate food sources and nesting areas. Lives hang in the balance every time a plane takes off from these dangerous airports.
The fancy bird monitoring system at Dhaka airport sits completely broken after officials spent millions on it. One camera stopped working and the main computer has been dead for months. Workers plan to ship the entire system to Italy for repairs but have no backup plan. The laser lights that scared birds at night also stopped working long ago. Gas cannons make loud noises every ten minutes but birds ignore them during daylight hours.
Airport staff only have one working gun to shoot problem birds when they should have twenty. Three bird control workers try to cover the entire airport with help from two air force shooters. The military shooters disappear during holidays and VIP visits leaving the airport defenseless. Green areas around the airport attract bugs and fish that draw hungry birds. Food waste scattered everywhere makes the problem even worse.
Bangladesh airports see bird strikes at three times the global average rate. Aviation experts say the country needs modern chemical sprays and better equipment to solve the crisis. Recent emergency meetings produced promises to buy more guns and hire more workers. Officials admit birds will keep coming unless they eliminate food sources and nesting areas. Lives hang in the balance every time a plane takes off from these dangerous airports.
