Date:	Sunday 3 August 2025
Time:	14:44 UTC
Type:	Airbus A321-253NY XLR
Owner/operator:	Iberia
Registration:	EC-OOJ
MSN:	12375
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 154
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Serious incident
Location:	17 km NNW of Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport (MAD/LEMD) -   Spain
Phase:	Initial climb
Nature:	Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:	Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport (MAD/LEMD)
Destination airport:	Paris-Orly Airport (ORY/LFPO)
Investigating agency:	CIAIAC
Confidence Rating:	Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities

Narrative:
Iberia Airlines flight IB579, an Airbus A321-253NY (XLR), suffered a bird strike on departure from Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport (MAD).

During the climb out phase, at a QNH altitude of about 6,400 ft, a large vulture collided with the nose of the aircraft. Debris from the bird and the aircraft were ingested by the left engine, which was severely damaged. The aircraft's interior filled with white smoke. The aircraft returned to MAD with the crew declaring MAYDAY. The approach and landing were uneventful.
The total duration of the flight was about 23 minutes.

The pilots donned their oxygen masks during the event. Three of the four cabin crew members attempted to use the corresponding PBE (Protective Breathing Equipment) with unsuccessful results. One PBE failed to activate, causing the flight attendant to become unconscious. CPR was performed after removing the PBE, and the flight attendant recovered.
CIAIAC issued urgent safety recommendations on PBE's.

LEMD 031400Z 18004KT CAVOK 37/09 Q1017 NOSIG
LEMD 031500Z 20006KT 160V260 CAVOK 38/08 Q1017 NOSIG

https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/IBE579/history/20250803/1415Z/LEMD/LEMD
https://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/europa/pasajero-grabo-el-panico-en-vuelo-579-de-iberia-por-choque-del-avion-con-un-ave-emergencia-obligo-a-regresar-al-aeropuerto-de-madrid-3478077
https://bea.aero/en/investigation-reports/notified-events/detail/serious-incident-to-the-airbus-a321-registered-ec-ooj-operated-by-iberia-on-03-08-2025-near-madrid/
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/video/124370164

https://www.transportes.gob.es/recursos_mfom/comodin/recursos/justification_report_for_sr_issuance.pdf

Daños visibles en uno de los motores del #A321 de #Iberia pic.twitter.com/VS6u7WJnBK

— Iván Castro Palacios (@ivancp25) August 3, 2025

https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2025/08/04/iberia-flight-attendant-treated-for-smoke-inhalation-after-new-jet-suffers-violent-bird-strike-near-madrid/

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
03-Aug-2025 16:58	ASN	Added
03-Aug-2025 16:58	ASN	Updated [Embed code, Narrative, ]
03-Aug-2025 17:00	ASN	Updated [Aircraft type, ]
03-Aug-2025 18:27	ASN	Updated [Embed code, ]
04-Aug-2025 10:53	Anon.	Updated [Embed code, Narrative, ]
06-Aug-2025 06:21	LESA	Updated [Source, Embed code, ]
09-Aug-2025 07:57	Anon.	Updated [Source, Narrative, ]
15-Aug-2025 18:31	ASN	Updated [Total occupants, Location, Source, Damage, Narrative, Accident report, ]
03-Sep-2025 13:31	Anon.	Updated [Time, Country, Embed code, ]
03-Sep-2025 13:31	ASN	Updated [Country, ]
03-Sep-2025 13:31	ASN	Updated
30-Sep-2025 08:25	ASN	Updated [Source, Narrative, ]