BRISBANE-bound passengers from Port Macquarie were flown to Sydney this afternoon after a birdstrike damaged their plane this morning.
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Passengers told the Port News they waited at Port Macquarie Airport for more than three hours after today’s 10.15am flight was delayed.
A Virgin Australia spokeswoman said the ATR turboprop hit a flock of birds after taking off from Sydney.
Passengers from the flight were moved to another plane, and eventually made it to Brisbane via Sydney.
The damaged plane is being assessed by mechanics this afternoon and is expected to be cleared for take-off at 4.15pm for Sydney.
Frustrated passengers contacted the Port News on our Facebook page today.
"Fortunately there were spare seats on the 11.35 to Sydney, so about six of us were put on that,'' a passenger posted.
"The plane that was to go to Brisbane was still on the Tarmac with a blood splatter on its nose!''
A Virgin spokeswoman said no other flights had been affected.
