Albatross crash lands into plane

We're often told that flying is a safer mode of transport than driving by car – but it seems the activity was not quite so reliable for one albatross travelling over the East China Sea.

The poor bird smashed into the front of a Japanese Coastguard patrol aeroplane and left a huge hole – about one-metre wide – in the aircraft's nose.

Despite the dead winged animal becoming stuck in the vehicle, the pilot of the Bombadier DHC8-315 did not perform an emergency landing, choosing instead to calmly guide the plane to its destination – a region named Ishigaki that stood about one hour away from where the incident took place.

And it appears winged creatures on the flight path may be emerging as an increasing problem in Japan, as bird strikes become more commonplace in the Asian nation.

Now I know hitting an albatross in golf may be something to be proud of – but I certainly wouldn't like to strike one this way!

By Simon Williams