A photograph depicting hundreds of birds seemingly flying alongside a British Airways aircraft gained viral attention, accompanied by an inspiring narrative. Snopes sought to uncover the facts behind it.
The story accurately recounts an event involving a British Airways pilot named Jason, who experienced a profound emotional response upon discovering the reason for the birds flying in proximity to his plane.
In March 2024, Snopes received inquiries from readers regarding a narrative that suggested a pilot had an emotional reaction after realizing why a flock of birds was near his aircraft. One reader shared an article from happiness-life.org, titled “The pilot’s emotional reaction when he discovered why birds were flying alongside the plane.” This article included a striking image of numerous birds seemingly surrounding a British Airways flight. Such visuals may prompt some readers to consider the issue of bird strikes, a frequent occurrence in aviation where birds collide with aircraft. According to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, approximately 90% of bird strikes occur at or near airports, typically during takeoff or landing.
One of the most notable bird-strike incidents involved US Airways Flight 1549, which Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger successfully landed in the Hudson River in 2009.
Snopes investigated the matter and uncovered the truth behind both the viral narrative and the accompanying photograph.