Overview

• Flight IB579 struck a large bird during climb-out from Madrid-Barajas, fracturing its nose radome and damaging left-engine fan blades.
• Pilots declared an emergency and turned the A321XLR around, returning with 182 passengers 25 minutes after departure.
• Iberia has withdrawn its first transatlantic‐configured A321XLR from service for in-depth technical checks.
• The airline reported no injuries and commended the crew’s adherence to safety protocols during the high-priority return.
• Reports varied on the bird’s species, with some outlets calling it a vulture, but Iberia has not confirmed its identity as safety teams review deterrence measures.