US Airports with most Bird Strikes

Because birds and commercial aviation share the same airspace, bird strikes are a problem that has yet to be completely solved.

Using data from the FAA, I chart the American airports with the most reported bird strikes in 2024. These numbers are overlayed with the annual passenger traffic for each airport. While Denver International Airport had the most strikes last year, it also one of the busiest airports in the country. Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, by contrast, has the highest passenger traffic of all, but a comparatively lower bird strike rate.

Note that these reports are for strikes in and around the airport. The majority of planes ingesting or impacting flying wildlife occurs while at an altitude of between 0 and 500 feet, making it a concern for airports everywhere. About 61% of bird strikes occur during the landing phase of flight and 36% occur during take-off and climb. But bird strikes also can happen at higher altitudes while the plane is en route between destinations (about 3%).

In almost all cases, bird strikes are a minor problem, as engines have been designed to withstand the impact. However, there have been major incidents and fatal accidents precipitated, if not caused entirely, by a bird strike. The most famous accident was the “Miracle on the Hudson” in 2009 in New York City.

Airports can mitigate the risk of strikes with wildlife management programs that disperse or remove birds and by changing the habitat around the airport. The Denver Airport, for example, has used dogs like the Deutsch Drahthaar species to harass and retrieve wildlife in the surrounding fields as part of its hazard management program. 

Methodology: I filtered the FAA database for 2024, then calculated the top 20 airports with the most strikes. This data is then visualized against the annual number of passengers enplaned at each airport for context. 

Note: Chicago O’Hare Airport passenger traffic data is for 2023 since 2024 data has not yet been published.