This week, specifically on Tuesday, a plane from Air Europa operating the Madrid-Havana route had to return to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport after an incident that occurred shortly after takeoff, but the return was not initiated until they were already over the Atlantic.
The incident forced a temporary suspension of operations on one of the runways at the Madrid airport.
The aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, was already flying over the Atlantic Ocean when the crew decided to turn back as a precaution.
According to the Air Traffic Controllers, through their official account on social media X, the reason was a bird strike during takeoff.
“The crew of the flight from #Madrid to Cuba reports a bird strike during takeoff. In Portuguese airspace, they decided to return as a precaution,” said the controllers, who added that the situation was managed without incidents.
“We positioned them for a direct approach to runway 32L, landing and vacating the runway without any incidents. Meanwhile, we diverted all traffic to runway 32R until the incident was resolved and the runway was inspected. We are now operating with parallel runways,” they added.
The incident was widely reported this Thursday by news outlets focused on aviation, such as Preferente and Reportur.
The image from the real-time flight tracker Flightradar24 confirms that the plane turned back shortly after flying over the Atlantic Ocean.
The cited sources did not provide further details on how the flight to Havana was finally executed.
Bird Strikes: A Common Risk in Aviation
Although these types of events can cause concern among passengers, bird strikes are relatively common in commercial aviation and almost never have fatal consequences.
They occur mainly during takeoff or landing phases, when aircraft fly at low altitudes, coinciding with the natural habitat of many birds.
Airlines and airports have established security protocols for these situations, which include subsequent technical inspections and immediate operational changes, as was the case with this Air Europa flight.
The priority, as in this case, is always to ensure the safety of the passengers and the crew.
Air Europa and its historic connection with Cuba
Founded in 1984 under the commercial name of Air España, Air Europa made its first flight in November 1986.
Over the past few decades, it has established itself as a leader in European and transoceanic routes, incorporating Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft in the 1990s and focusing on destinations in Latin America.
Currently, it is part of the Globalia group and has a modern fleet of more than 50 aircraft, including the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
In addition, it is a member of the SkyTeam alliance, allowing it to offer connections to over 1,000 international routes.
Air Europa has maintained regular flights to Havana for over two decades, establishing itself as a key player in the air connection between Spain and the island.
Since the summer of 2025, the airline has been operating a daily flight on the Madrid-Havana route, with seven weekly frequencies during peak season, strengthening its presence compared to the six weekly flights it previously maintained.
Filed under: