article_snippet.sent: The FAA estimates that bird strikes have resulted in 200 worldwide deaths since 1988.
article_snippet.sent: bird strikes are dangerous to aircraft because birds can be sucked into a jet engine and strike an engine fan blade.
article_snippet.sent: That impact knocks out a single blade and can trigger a domino effect, resulting in engine failure.
article_snippet.sent: Incidents are most common shortly before landing or take-off when the jet engines are at top speed.
article_snippet.sent: Despite this, the number of accidents involving civil aircraft is low, estimated at one fatal accident in one billion flying hours.
article_snippet.sent: Around 65 per cent of bird strikes cause little damage to aircraft, but the blow is usually fatal to Bird Strike Committee USA.