Bird-plane collisions may pass 10,000 in the US

WASHINGTON: Reports of airplanes in the US hitting birds and other wildlife have soared in the year since a stricken US Airways jet landed in New York's Hudson River, and the government's tally for last year could reach or even exceed 10,000 for the first time.

Serious accidents are climbing at a faster rate than minor incidents.

There were at least 57 cases in the first seven months of 2009 that caused serious damage and three in which planes and a corporate helicopter were destroyed by birds, according to an analysis by The Associated Press of the latest government figures available. At least eight people died, and six more were hurt.