Hello FTers

I am looking into a delay to my parents' flight from Genoa a couple of weeks back. They got into Gatwick almost 4 hours late after the plane was hit by a red kite (the bird variety) coming into Genoa, before being turned around to go back.

An initial claim for EU 261 via the free Resolver website has been rejected.

Is there any clarity on where a bird strike stands in the pantheon of 'exceptional circumstances'? I know there was a non-binding court ruling on it last year.

My folks are pretty elderly and aside from the delay, they were kept sat on the tarmac for over 2 hours of the delay with a paltry glass of water and half a sandwich. Feel a bit angry about that and the stock response from BA.

Ta