A Mango Boeing 737-800, registration ZS-SJH performing flight JE-147 from Johannesburg to Cape Town (South Africa) with 179 people on board, was climbing out of Johannesburg’s runway 03L when a bird impacted the left hand engine inlet (CFM56) causing a dent at the engine inlet.

The crew stopped the climb at about FL200 and decided to return to Johannesburg for a safe landing on runway 03L about 25 minutes after departure.

Passenger Sergio Davids reported a bird impacted the left hand engine, then he could smell smoke in the cabin.