GOL flight G3 1587 bound for São Paulo/GRU experienced an engine fire shortly after take-off from Recife at 12:50 local time on 5 October when a bird was ingested into the right CFM56 engine. The captain declared a ‘return to departure airport’ procedure, stayed in a holding pattern for over an hour to burn fuel and landed safely at 13:47. No emergency was officially declared, and the airport remained fully operational, operator Aena confirmed. Passengers were rebooked onto later flights, but video footage shared by local broadcaster TV Guararapes shows flames flickering from the engine inlet—a reminder that Brazil’s spring migration season heightens wildlife-strike risk. The National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) has ordered a mandatory incident report under RBAC 121. For business travellers, the episode underscores the importance of buffer time in tight Recife-São Paulo connections, a common shuttle for the energy and tech sectors. Travel buyers may also wish to verify suppliers’ disruption-management policies ahead of the holiday peak. Air-safety analysts note that GOL recorded three bird-strike returns in 2026, none with casualties. Recife’s airport sits near mangroves attracting seabirds; ANAC’s forthcoming Wildlife Hazard Management circular will likely raise mitigation standards for such coastal hubs.
Source: TV Guararapes
