---
title: "Air Force A-10 gets hit by bird, ‘inadvertently’ drops 3 dummy bombs in Florida"
date: "2019-07-02"
modified: "2019-07-02"
authors:
  - name: "Paul Szoldra"
    job_title: "Editor"
    link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/paul-szoldra/"
url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/a10-bird-strike/"
categories:
  - "Air Force"
  - "Aircraft"
  - "Around the World"
  - "Fighter Aircraft"
  - "Military Branches"
  - "Munitions"
  - "News"
  - "Tech & Tactics"
  - "United States"
  - "Weapons"
tags:
  - "Northern Command"
---

# Air Force A-10 gets hit by bird, ‘inadvertently’ drops 3 dummy bombs in Florida

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/19636830-1.jpg>)

An Air Force A-10 pilot dropped three dummy rounds after being hit by a bird during a routine training flight over Florida on Monday.

An A-10C Thunderbolt II with the 23rd Fighter Group out of Georgia's Moody Air Force base "suffered a bird strike which caused an inadvertent release" of three BDU-33 training bombs somewhere near Suwannee Springs, Florida, the service said in a news release.

The BDU-33 is a 25-pound blue training round similar to an M1a-82 500-pound bomb, the service said. Although it is inert, the round still has a small pyrotechnic charge.

[media.defense.gov](<https://media.defense.gov/2019/Jul/02/2002152852/-1/-1/0/190702-F-XX000-0002.JPG>)

Which means that if you come across it, you're not supposed to touch it. Yes, that means you, [Florida Man.](<https://floridaman.com/>)

The Air Force says the incident is under investigation and no injuries or damage have been reported.

The bird would probably disagree.

## Author
Paul Szoldra was the Editor in Chief of Task & Purpose from October 2018 until August 2022. Since joining T&P, he has led a talented team of writers, editors, and creators who produce military journalism reaching millions of readers each month. He also founded and edits [Duffel Blog](<https://www.duffelblog.com/>), a popular satirical newsletter for the military. Before becoming a journalist in 2013, he served as a Marine infantryman in Afghanistan, Korea, and other areas of the Pacific. His eyes still go up every time a helicopter from Camp Pendleton flies over his office in Southern California.

### Author social links  
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