[fod]

but in a majority of birdstrikes the plane is destroyed.

I have seen three birdstrikes on F/A-18 hornets, and each time, the plane was landed safely. (BTW, I've not heard of a birdstrike related crash in my military career)

It is amazing how much damage a seagull can do, but I really doubt that even a flock of seagulls could make a plane disintegrate in midair.

birds could knock out an engine, but not off, and there is no way they could knock off an entire rudder...

[Tennessee_Bob]

(BTW, I've not heard of a birdstrike related crash in my military career)

AWACS crash in Alaska in 1995 attributed to birdstrike, killed all personnel on board.

Belgian C-130 at Eindhoven in 1996, attributed to birdstrike, killed 34 people.

Kigali, Congo, April 20, 2000, transport sustained a birdstrike, killing at least 21.

For those that don't believe a bird can do anything to an aircraft, click here.