Sen. Chuck Schumer says he plans to introduce legislation that would require airlines to report bird strikes to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The FAA released data last month showing that collisions with birds or other animals have destroyed 28 aircraft since 2000. The FAA estimates its voluntary reporting system captures only 20 percent of such incidents.
"The shocking bird-strike data that has been released must be a wake-up call for the FAA," Schumer said in a statement Wednesday. "It's time for the FAA to do the right thing and inform the public about these serious safety issues."
The FAA figures showed that JFK Airport's 34 bird strikes represented the highest figure among US airports since 2000.
The agency was pressured to release the entire data set following the Jan. 15 ditching of a US Airways jet in the Hudson River after bird strikes knocked out its engines.
Schumer said Wednesday the problem can't be properly addressed until it's understood. An FAA spokeswoman said the agency is reviewing its policy.
