Guide Updated 2026
Reviewed by the Kravflyg Editorial Team6min read

Flight Delay Caused by a Bird Strike — Are You Entitled to Compensation?

A bird strike is an extraordinary circumstance — the EU Court of Justice settled this in the Pešková case. But a long knock-on delay caused by the airline's own handling can still be claimable. Reviewed May 2026.

Check your rights

Are you entitled to compensation?

If all 5 conditions below are met, it is very likely that you are entitled to compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004.

  • The flight departed from an airport within the EU, or landed in the EU and was operated by an EU-based airline.
  • The delay at the final destination was 3 hours or more — or the flight was cancelled or you were denied boarding.
  • You had a confirmed booking and checked in on time.
  • The airline did not give notice of the cancellation at least 14 days in advance.
  • The cause was not a genuine extraordinary circumstance (documented extreme weather, air-traffic-control strike and the like).
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Editorial illustration av ett passagerarflygplan på flygplatsens platta med en liten fågelflock högt i en ljus, klar himmel.

A bird strike is one of the few causes where the answer is genuinely a fairly clear no — but only to one of two questions. The main rule: a bird collision counts as an extraordinary circumstance, so the collision itself normally gives no compensation. This is not an interpretation the airlines invented — the EU Court of Justice settled the question explicitly in the Pešková case (C-315/15). But the same ruling says something more, and that is where this page becomes useful: if a large part of the delay is instead down to the airline's own inspection or admin dragging on, that part may be claimable.

This page belongs to our overview of extraordinary circumstances on flights, where every cause is compared side by side.

What the EU Court of Justice decided in the Pešková case

The Pešková case (C-315/15) was about exactly this: a flight delayed after the aircraft collided with a bird. The EU Court of Justice examined two questions and answered both.

Is a bird strike an extraordinary circumstance? Yes. A collision between an aircraft and a bird — and any damage it causes — is not part of an airline's normal operations and lies beyond its actual control. So for the collision itself the exemption holds, and no compensation is due.

Is it enough that a bird strike occurred? No. The Court was just as clear on this point: the airline must also show that it took all reasonable measures to avoid or limit the delay that followed. The fact that the collision was extraordinary does not release the airline from responsibility for how it handled the situation afterwards.

How to judge whether a knock-on delay after a bird strike could be claimable.

Five-step flow for assessing entitlement to compensation after a bird strike.

The two-part assessment — what decides your case

It is the second part that most people miss, and that no competitor content breaks down properly. Picture the delay in two parts:

  • The necessary inspection time. After a bird strike the aircraft must be checked before it may fly again — that is a safety requirement. That time is a direct consequence of the extraordinary event and is normally not claimable.
  • The extra time. If it then took a long time because the airline had no technicians on site, was waiting for clearance, had no contingency plan or simply handled the case slowly — that part is about the airline's own organisation. And the airline could have avoided it.

If the total delay at arrival passes three hours, and a significant share of it is down to the second type of hold-up, then the question of compensation is open — despite the bird strike. And the burden of proof lies with the airline: it is the airline that must show it did what it could, not you who must prove the opposite. Read more in our eligibility check step by step .

The duty of care applies regardless

Even when the bird strike frees the airline from paying cash compensation, the duty of care remains. While you wait, the airline must offer food and drink in reasonable quantity, and for an overnight delay also a hotel and transport. That right is tied to the disruption, not to the cause — a bird does not remove the airline's obligation to look after you. More on that in your right to meals and a hotel during a flight delay .

How to assess your case

  1. Accept the main rule for the collision. The bird strike itself is extraordinary — it normally gives no compensation.
  2. Examine the time afterwards. How long did the aircraft sit, and why? Was it pure inspection, or waiting on resources and clearance?
  3. Ask for an explanation. If you get a no, ask the airline to set out what happened after the collision and why the delay grew so long. The airline carries the burden of proof.
  4. Take it further. If a large part of the delay appears to be down to the airline's handling, you can turn — free of charge — to ARN (Allmänna reklamationsnämnden, the Swedish National Board for Consumer Disputes); Transportstyrelsen (the Swedish Transport Agency) is the supervisory authority.

If you are unsure whether your case qualifies, start with our router that decides whether you are entitled to compensation . To see what a claim might be worth, use the flight compensation calculator .

This is not legal advice

This page draws on published and institutional sources — expert review has not yet been carried out. For advice on your individual case, contact ARN (Allmänna reklamationsnämnden, the Swedish National Board for Consumer Disputes) or Transportstyrelsen (the Swedish Transport Agency), the supervisory authority for air passenger rights in Sweden.

Frequently asked questions

Do you get compensation for a flight delay caused by a bird strike?

Not for the strike itself. The EU Court of Justice ruled in the Pešková case (C-315/15) that a bird collision is an extraordinary circumstance beyond the airline's control. But if a large part of the delay is instead down to the airline's own inspection or admin dragging on, that part may be claimable.

What did the EU Court of Justice rule in the bird-strike case?

In the Pešková case (C-315/15) the EU Court of Justice settled two things. First: a collision between an aircraft and a bird is an extraordinary circumstance. Second: the airline must still show it took all reasonable measures to limit the delay after the collision — otherwise compensation can still be due for that part. Read more in our overview of extraordinary circumstances .

Can I claim compensation if the inspection after the bird strike took unnecessarily long?

Possibly. The time for a necessary safety inspection after a bird strike is normally not claimable. But if the delay dragged on because the airline had no technicians, was waiting for clearance or handled the case slowly, that extra time can be judged as something the airline could have avoided.

Am I entitled to meals and a hotel after a bird strike?

Yes. The duty of care applies regardless of cause. Even when the bird strike frees the airline from cash compensation, it must still offer food and drink during the wait, and for an overnight delay also a hotel and transport. Read more about your right to meals and a hotel during a flight delay .

Sources and further reading

Last reviewed: 17 May 2026.

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