Pigeons Near Airports Put Lives at Risk

Raising or feeding pigeons near airports can be deadly. Colonel Dr. Osama Bahar, Head of Hidd Police Station, highlighted the dangers on the Ministry of Interior’s “Al Aman” program, citing a tragic incident in South Korea in December 2024, where a plane collided with a flock of birds, killing 179 passengers.

Colonel Bahar warned: “If you’re raising pigeons and flying them near airports, you need to stop. People’s lives matter—this isn’t a game.” While feeding pigeons may seem like a harmless act of kindness, he emphasized that such actions can endanger human lives. “If you want to do good, protect those on planes arriving and departing,” he said.

The threat is real in Bahrain. Colonel Bahar noted that “Bahrain Airport has about a thousand pigeons nearby.” Birds flying in groups at low altitudes—under 150 feet—can collide with planes during takeoff and landing. Bird strikes cost $1 to $1.5 billion globally every year and have caused many fatalities.

He recalled past incidents, including a 2009 case at New York Airport, where bird strikes caused both engines of a plane to fail during takeoff. “Thanks to God and the pilot’s skill, 155 passengers survived,” he said. These examples show that preventing bird strikes starts with responsible behavior on the ground.

Colonel Bahar stressed that this is about flight safety, not fines or cleanliness. “Whoever saves a life, it is as if he has saved all of humanity,” he said. He urged people to rethink hobbies or habits that put lives at risk, including feeding pigeons in public spaces or cemeteries. Acts of kindness toward animals must never compromise human safety.

Protecting passengers, pilots, and everyone near airports is crucial to maintaining Bahrain’s reputation as a safe and responsible country.