Overview

• The Airbus A321XLR (registration EC-OOJ) sustained significant damage to its nose radome and weather radar after striking a large bird minutes into flight IB579.
• The captain declared an emergency under established safety protocols and returned the four-week-old jet to Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport without injuries.
• Passengers reported smoke in the cabin and manually deployed oxygen masks during the descent despite all 182 people aboard remaining unharmed.
• Iberia canceled the scheduled Paris-Orly service and deployed a replacement A320neo later that evening to transport affected travelers.
• The incident highlights operational challenges for Iberia’s new A321XLR fleet under its Flight Plan 2030 modernization and underscores the ongoing risk bird strikes pose during low-altitude phases.