EasyJet flight number 3052 was forced to return to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol after the incident
Rob Currell and Kirstie McCrum
11:25, 09 Feb 2026
The flight was diverted back to Schipol(Image: Getty)
The aircraft was diverted back to Amsterdam after a bird strike(Image: Flight Radar 24)
An EasyJet flight bound for Belfast was compelled to return to Amsterdam following a bird strike incident on Sunday, the airline has confirmed. EasyJet flight number 3052/U23052 made a U-turn back to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, touching down approximately 20 minutes after its 6.09pm departure last night.
The Airbus A320 Neo aircraft’s return to Schiphol Airport was due to a bird strike, and it completed a loop over the sea before heading back to its point of departure. An update from EasyJet at the time read: “We’re sorry that your flight has been returned to Amsterdam. This is because the plane needs to be inspected by our engineers following a bird strike.
“This can take between 30 minutes to two hours and we’ll keep you updated as soon as we know more. The safety of you and our crew is our highest priority and we thank you for your patience.”
Bird strikes are a frequent event and a regular risk for air travel, with thousands of incidents reported globally each year.
A subsequent update provided by the company yesterday read: “There has been an additional delay because the plane that was scheduled for your flight today experienced a bird strike. Because the issue could not be resolved, we’ve decided to arrange a new plane to fly you to your destination today,” reports Belfast Live.
“The disruption to your flight is outside of our control and is considered to be an extraordinary circumstance.”
The most recent updates show that EasyJet flight 3052 is expected to depart from Amsterdam this afternoon, with take-off scheduled for 1pm.
EasyJet has been contacted for further comment.