Originally Posted by
MajorLemond
Word on the street is that it had a serious birdstrike (enough to replace the radome) but engines were assessed as undamaged.
Good job to get it back on the ground, it will be interesting to see a full report.
One would think that any existing damage to the engines would manifest itself once takeoff power was set, but stranger things have happened.
Sort of thinking out loud here, but one possible explanation is difference in air density at runway altitude versus 3 or 4 minutes into climbout. If the compressors were damaged the performance falloff very well might be greater in low air densities and the fans begin to spin at higher rpm's to maintain necessary air flow at higher altitudes and speeds.
Pilots might only notice takeoff run taking more runway than it should have for a particular flex setting. Then as climb performance is not as expected they might override and then the extra fuel make EGT matters worse.