Wizz Air flight delayed 17 hours after bird strike during Tenerife landing

A Wizz Air flight, scheduled to depart from Tenerife to Budapest on 1 January 2025, faced a significant delay after the aircraft collided with birds during the landing of the Budapest-Tenerife flight. The W62424 flight was originally scheduled to depart at 7:00 PM local time on the first day of the year but was rescheduled multiple times, eventually leaving Tenerife on 2 January at noon.

The incident and maintenance checks

According to Wizz Air’s communiqué sent to Telex, the plane, arriving in Tenerife from Budapest, struck some birds during its landing. While the landing itself was uneventful, the airline emphasised that necessary maintenance checks rendered the aircraft unfit for immediate return.

A replacement aircraft was sent to Tenerife to transport the stranded passengers back to Budapest. Wizz Air reiterated its commitment to passenger, crew, and aircraft safety, noting that it regretted the inconvenience caused.

Passenger support and compensation

The airline informed affected passengers via email and provided EUR 30 meal vouchers as immediate support. Passengers who arranged their accommodations were promised reimbursement for expenses upon submitting receipts. Wizz Air emphasised its adherence to EU regulations governing passenger rights.

Stranded passengers and online frustration

According to a reader of Telex, around 180 passengers, including families, were left scrambling for solutions, turning to online community groups to secure last-minute accommodations. While some travellers expressed frustration over the situation, others acknowledged the airline’s efforts to mitigate the impact through compensation and support options. Wizz Air apologized for the disruption, reaffirming that safety remains its top priority.

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