Malta-Rome Air Malta flight hit by bird strike

A second Air Malta flight has encountered a bird strike, this time on flight KM612 from Malta to Rome.

The national carrier issued a statement to say that the bird strike took place during the flight's final descent into Rome airport.

The aircraft is subsequently undergoing precautionary technical and safety checks before the operation of the return flight KM613 from Rome to Malta which was scheduled to depart from Rome airport at 10.10am.

"Air Malta would like to inform its customers that a delay should be expected, the airline is doing its utmost to operate the flight as soon as possible," the airline concluded.

On New Year's Eve, an Air Malta aircraft, flight KM377 from Berlin to Malta encountered a bird strike shortly after take-off, which led to significant delays in the following days due to the aircraft being grounded for maintenance.