A Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300, registration B-KQR performing flight CX-198 from Auckland (New Zealand) to Hong Kong (China), was climbing out of Auckland's runway 23L when the aircraft flew through a flock of birds and received a number of bird strikes. In the absence of abnormal indications the crew continued the climb but stopped at FL250 and decided to return to Auckland. The aircraft dumped fuel at FL150 and landed safely back on Auckland's runway 23L about 90 minutes after departure. A post flight inspection revealed a dented radome of the aircraft.

The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Auckland about 17 hours after landing.

The nose seen later (Photo: Tobias):