A Turkish Airlines Boeing 777 freighter remains on the ground in Maastricht after a bird strike during takeoff on Saturday night. The crew heard an impact as the jet rotated. They stopped the climb and returned safely to the Dutch airport around 25 minutes later.
An Impact on Rotation at Maastricht
The aircraft, TC-LJL, was operating cargo flight TK6040 to Istanbul on 7 November 2026. It departed from Maastricht’s runway 21 with nothing out of the ordinary until the nose lifted from the ground.
According to The Aviation Herald, the crew then reported the sound of an impact from an unknown object during rotation. At that stage, nobody on the flight deck could confirm what the freighter had hit.
A Climb Halted at 5,000 Feet
Instead of continuing towards its cruising altitude, the 777F levelled off at 5,000 feet. The crew also advised air traffic control that they could hear unusual sounds.
Meanwhile, Flightradar24 data shows the freighter flying a series of wide loops northeast of Maastricht. This gave the pilots time to assess the aircraft, run their checklists and prepare for an early landing.
Eventually, the crew lined up for runway 21 at Maastricht once more and touched down safely. The whole flight lasted roughly 25 minutes from departure to landing.
Airport Confirms a Bird Strike
Following the return, Maastricht Airport reported that the freighter had suffered a bird strike. In addition, Planespotters now lists the aircraft as parked and notes that it sustained damage in the strike.
Bird strikes rank among the most common hazards in commercial aviation. Most happen close to the ground, during takeoff or landing, when aircraft share the lower airspace with birds.
However, no public details have emerged on where the bird hit or how serious the damage is. Engine ingestion, a dented leading edge and a cracked radome all sit among the usual suspects after a strike at rotation.
A Familiar Face in Maastricht
This is not the first time TC-LJL has made headlines in Maastricht. In November 2025, AeroHaber reported that the wake from this same jet stripped hundreds of tiles from a shed roof in nearby Beek. On that occasion, the freighter was arriving from Miami and made two landing attempts.
Boeing built the aircraft at Everett with serial number 60403 and line number 1532. After its ferry flight to Istanbul between 30 November and 1 December 2017, it joined the Turkish Cargo fleet. Today, the nine year old freighter flies on two General Electric GE90 engines.
What Happens Next in Maastricht
The Aviation Herald reports that the aircraft was still on the ground about 22 hours after landing. As a result, engineers must complete a full inspection and any repairs before the freighter flies again.
For now, TC-LJL stays parked in Maastricht while Turkish Airlines assesses the damage. Because the strike happened at such a critical moment, the crew’s calm decision to stop the climb and return deserves credit.
We will update this story as more details emerge from Maastricht. You can also follow every live development on our Squawk 7700 desk.
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