Vulture delays Ryanair flight from Crete after refusing to leave wing

A Ryanair flight scheduled to depart from Crete's Heraklion Airport faced an unusual delay when a persistent vulture decided to perch on its wing. The large bird, with a wingspan that can reach up to three meters, refused to budge, prompting airport authorities to call in firefighters.

Firefighters arrived at the scene and managed to safely remove the stubborn avian, carefully wrapping it in a fire-resistant jacket. Images shared by local media showed the bird being secured before being placed into a wooden box. The incident occurred as the plane was awaiting takeoff, and the airline's destination was not immediately disclosed.

The vulture was subsequently handed over to the island's natural history museum for care. This unusual encounter serves as a reminder of the potential dangers birds pose to aviation. Bird strikes, where birds are ingested into aircraft engines, can cause severe accidents. Recently, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board reported a Ryanair engine incident where bird remains were found after a blade broke, leading to a passenger cabin window shattering.

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Vultures are among the largest flying birds on Earth. Their wingspan can reach up to three meters and they can weigh over 10 kilograms.