VAN NUYS, CA — A pilot’s routine return flight from Las Vegas turned into a terrifying life-or-death ordeal when a bird strike shattered the cockpit windshield mid-flight, forcing an emergency landing at Van Nuys Airport on Saturday evening.
Captain Gema Goeyardi, who was at the controls of a Barron B55 twin-engine aircraft, recounted the heart-stopping moment when a bird slammed into the plane’s windshield at 8:30 p.m. as they navigated through the Newhall Pass. The impact sent shards of glass flying through the cockpit and left his co-pilot covered in blood. “I was so shocked for about four seconds. I just thought, ‘What has happened here?’” Goeyardi recalled. “I looked at my friend’s face—it was like a horror movie. Blood was covering his face, we were all shaking, and the wind was freezing.”
The unexpected collision left the aircraft exposed to rushing air at high altitude, making communication nearly impossible. “Suddenly, it just exploded,” Goeyardi said. “I didn’t understand what had happened. At first, I thought an engine part had broken off and struck the windshield.” The powerful gusts of wind and roaring noise inside the cockpit made it impossible to hear the aircraft’s radio, complicating their emergency response. “I tried to declare a mayday call, ‘Mayday, mayday,’ but I couldn’t hear anything because the noise was so loud,” Goeyardi said.
Despite the chaos and his co-pilot’s serious injuries, Goeyardi had to act swiftly to stabilize the aircraft. With reduced visibility and no windshield protection, he maneuvered the plane through the Newhall Pass, making the difficult decision to attempt an emergency landing at Van Nuys Airport.
As the wind rushed against his face, he fought to maintain control, successfully bringing the aircraft down at 8:45 p.m.. “I realized I didn’t feel anything—maybe God put an invisible wall over me, allowing me to see everything clearly like a normal landing,” he said. “But I was terrified.”
It wasn’t until they were safely on the ground that Goeyardi learned the cause of the accident. “I had no idea it was a bird that hit us until after we landed,” he admitted. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reported a rise in bird strikes and other wildlife-related incidents in recent years, with over 19,000 wildlife strikes recorded at 713 U.S. airports in 2023 alone. These incidents often involve birds but can also include deer and other animals straying onto runways.
Despite the terrifying ordeal, Goeyardi is determined to return to the skies. “I believe I have to go up again, at the same Newhall Pass with a small airplane at night,” he said. “I need to beat my fear and not drown in my trauma.” He plans to fly again within the next two days, refusing to let fear take control of his passion for aviation.
His co-pilot, who sustained serious facial injuries, is expected to make a full recovery. Meanwhile, Goeyardi’s resilience and determination stand as a testament to the unpredictable dangers of aviation and the bravery required to overcome them. While the event was harrowing, it hasn’t deterred him from his lifelong love of flying—a passion he refuses to abandon, even after facing one of the most terrifying moments of his career.
