It is decades since I last flew into Guernsey. OK we understand wet runway and gusty cross wind conditions. Sure going back in on one was probably not the best thing to try. We all know that sitting at home in an armchair thinking about a scenario and the, 'what would I have done?' is completely different to sitting in that left hand seat in the thick of it. Personally, from my armchair, I think that I would have gone for the nearest suitable diversion. However all is well that ends well.

A point of consideration with twins is that it should be sphinctre tightening to know that on one engine, it might fail too. So, with heightened awareness let us all recall, please, that a 50% reduction in power is a Mayday ; not a Pan . "Nearest suitable " means just that. NEAREST. Time is not a factor. "Suitable" means only with regard to RWY length, app facilities etc. In otherwords, it is a field capable of taking you with specific regard. A farmers's field is capable but would not meet specified criteria.

Colleague lost an engine of a 737 in the descent to Orley. He returned to LGW (Base) and CP invited all of us, howling for blood, that the discussion should centre on "suitable" ! Oh really ! Mind you , offender was from same squadron, liked golf & was probably a ......................................oh no, here I go again !

I am a birdwatcher, anyone got a photo? Many birds of prey have yellow legs I would imagine it was a Common Buzzard which is reasonably big. Failing that it could be a Kestrel (bit small) or female Sparrowhawk (can be biggish) or something more exotic. As it is related to m x v squared I guess speed is more important than mass of the bird, although I would think a large Buzzard at least twice the mass of a Kestrel.

From my PPL memory Southampton is 1723m (02/20) and there is maintenance (executive stuff) but not sure FlyBe use it

Kestrel 140-310g, Buzzard 430-1400g = ouch!!

I had a couple of close encounters with Buzzards in my Arrow, thank goodness I didn't hit one (or vice versa)

Made the Jersey news today ... a short video included, which may have been linked already ...
Video: Plane flies on despite propeller smash in bird strike « Jersey Evening Post

Apologies to the ornithologists...
 

@gawbc

Looks like a big bird...

https://image-store.slidesharecdn.co...d938-large.png

Yes, unsurprisingly it's the same video as the one in the DM article linked from post #1.

I'd guess that if any other passengers had also filmed the event we'd have seen the results by now.

Fairly sure it's a Common Buzzard (one of the most common birds of prey in the UK / GB / British Isles whatever Guernsey is)

What's the chances of a bird hitting a spinner? Unless a bang on central hit, I would have expected the airflow to sweep a bird around the spinner and into the blades. I suppose it is possible that a blow from a blade could throw a bird forward into the spinner but again this seems pretty low probability.

Probably in the lottery odds.

I bullseyed a bird on the nosecone once... Middle of the night, 3000 feet in the climb... 250 knots...

Slipstream doesn't help with a bird that size!!

:ouch:

EGLL
 

Why's that then? If the captain of the flight had decided that Heathrow was the appropriate course of action, then he'd have gone there. I'm not aware of any rule that says you can't divert to Heathrow unless there is an imminent danger of death.

From the AIP:

Diversion: Before filing EGLL as ALTN, prior arrangement for GND handling are necessary. Except EMERG.

Prop shaft damage?
 

No-one seems to have mentioned it so far, but the prop/spinner assembly "seems" to be moving (wobbling) around on the shaft or bearings, suggesting fairly significant damage to the prop-shaft and/or reduction gearboxbox.
Could be the camera wobbling though doesn't look like it.
Not getting into the "nearest Suitable" debate................;)

Given that the cabin sidewall and window frame "wobble" in unison with the engine/prop, I think it's safe to assume that it's our friend Dan who has the shakes ...

Time might not be a factor on your flight deck LandFlap but it is on mine. If I've got to chose between two equally suitable airports and A is 50 minutes away while B is 60 minutes away, I'm going to A even if B is closer.

Blimey, he's got a PPL? More likely got the job because he once flew to Spain on holiday. About as qualified as the average "defence correspondent" :*

Framer ; Splitting hairs ole mate. Aces like you who can quickly determine the best given an almost equal choice are skygods whom I greatly admire. LF is correct though. Nearest is nearest is nearest. Otherwise we get bogged down in all the claptrap like which is "more" suitable. Thats why the Regulatory Authorities defined it closely as "nearest". Or was it "nearest" as "closest". Oh gosh, tea & bickies for an average poler like me every time.

Rubbish. Go to the most sensible airport, if the law says something else then it's an excellent chance to use the authority you have to make decisions in the name of safety that don't align with the law.

Ok, go to the nearest which has crosswinds, is wet, short, doesn't have fire cover and isn't open.

No QRH I've ever seen instructs you to land at the nearest. Nearest suitable yes, nearest no.