Narrative:

On climb, between 3000-5000 ft, I felt a powerful force/jolt coming from the 1L forward door. #3 flight attendant was seated left on the jump seat with me. We both stayed in our seats. A silent time passed between 1-2 mins, then 4 chimes rang. I picked up receiver and captain ordered me in the cockpit. In the cockpit I was told by captain that we hit a large flock of what seemed to be snow geese. He asked me to stand by for further notice from the ground that we would be returning to ord, but he was unsure of any problems or damage to the aircraft at that time. Because the situation was not clear, I returned to my cabin, called all flight attendants via phone in the aft and explained. I asked all flight attendants to review their plan emergency and 30 second review of their doors, very quietly. They and myself mentally prepared ourselves. Our captain called me after 10 mins and said we were in a holding pattern to burn fuel and we were returning to ord. I explained to the captain about me having the flight attendants mentally prepare and review. He and first officer approved. Captain told me he would say 'easy victor 3 times.' I was prepared. Landing was smooth, we parked at gate. I opened the door, flight service was ready to assist. We deplaned and received another aircraft. We boarded again, lost 2 flight attendants who went illegal for the rest of the trip. We left ord with minimum crew, with a full load.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT ATTENDANT RPT REGARDING AN MD80 WHICH HAD A BIRD STRIKE ON CLB. THERE WAS A LARGE FLOCK OF SNOW GEESE. THEY WERE FORCED TO RETURN TO DEP ARPT.

Narrative: ON CLB, BTWN 3000-5000 FT, I FELT A POWERFUL FORCE/JOLT COMING FROM THE 1L FORWARD DOOR. #3 FLT ATTENDANT WAS SEATED L ON THE JUMP SEAT WITH ME. WE BOTH STAYED IN OUR SEATS. A SILENT TIME PASSED BTWN 1-2 MINS, THEN 4 CHIMES RANG. I PICKED UP RECEIVER AND CAPT ORDERED ME IN THE COCKPIT. IN THE COCKPIT I WAS TOLD BY CAPT THAT WE HIT A LARGE FLOCK OF WHAT SEEMED TO BE SNOW GEESE. HE ASKED ME TO STAND BY FOR FURTHER NOTICE FROM THE GND THAT WE WOULD BE RETURNING TO ORD, BUT HE WAS UNSURE OF ANY PROBS OR DAMAGE TO THE ACFT AT THAT TIME. BECAUSE THE SIT WAS NOT CLR, I RETURNED TO MY CABIN, CALLED ALL FLT ATTENDANTS VIA PHONE IN THE AFT AND EXPLAINED. I ASKED ALL FLT ATTENDANTS TO REVIEW THEIR PLAN EMER AND 30 SECOND REVIEW OF THEIR DOORS, VERY QUIETLY. THEY AND MYSELF MENTALLY PREPARED OURSELVES. OUR CAPT CALLED ME AFTER 10 MINS AND SAID WE WERE IN A HOLDING PATTERN TO BURN FUEL AND WE WERE RETURNING TO ORD. I EXPLAINED TO THE CAPT ABOUT ME HAVING THE FLT ATTENDANTS MENTALLY PREPARE AND REVIEW. HE AND FO APPROVED. CAPT TOLD ME HE WOULD SAY 'EASY VICTOR 3 TIMES.' I WAS PREPARED. LNDG WAS SMOOTH, WE PARKED AT GATE. I OPENED THE DOOR, FLT SVC WAS READY TO ASSIST. WE DEPLANED AND RECEIVED ANOTHER ACFT. WE BOARDED AGAIN, LOST 2 FLT ATTENDANTS WHO WENT ILLEGAL FOR THE REST OF THE TRIP. WE LEFT ORD WITH MINIMUM CREW, WITH A FULL LOAD.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.