An American Airlines flight en route to Charlotte, North Carolina, was forced to make an emergency landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Thursday night after a bird strike disabled one of its engines.
Videos circulating online, including one posted on X (formerly Twitter), appeared to show flames emanating from the damaged engine during the strike.
The Airbus A321, carrying 190 passengers and six crew members, departed New York’s LaGuardia Airport at 7.43 pm (local time). Shortly after takeoff, the right engine was reportedly struck by birds, causing the pilot to declare an emergency at 7.52 pm.
According to LiveATC.net, the pilot communicated with air traffic control, saying, “Mayday, mayday, mayday American 1722 engine failure. It appears we have an engine failure but we’re still kind of working through to figure out what’s going on. We hit birds on the way out.”
The aircraft landed safely at JFK at 8.03 pm and taxied to the terminal under its own power. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew, as confirmed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
American Airlines issued a statement apologising for the inconvenience and commending the crew’s professionalism. The flight was rescheduled to depart for Charlotte the following morning, with hotel accommodations provided to the passengers.
Rising bird strikes a concern in US
Bird strikes have been an increasing concern across the US, with over 19,400 incidents recorded at 713 airports in 2023, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). While such incidents rarely result in significant damage, Thursday’s event serves as a reminder of the risks posed by wildlife near airports.
The emergency landing also brought memories of the 2009 “Miracle on the Hudson” to the forefront. In that incident, a US Airways flight departing LaGuardia for Charlotte struck a flock of birds, losing power in both engines. Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger successfully landed the plane on the Hudson River, saving all 155 onboard.
Passenger experiences
Passengers onboard Thursday’s flight described the harrowing moments following the bird strike. Amy Stamper, speaking to The New York Post, said, “I thought I was going to die. There were a couple of small explosions, and there was a fire.” Another passenger noted the professionalism of the flight attendants, stating that their calm demeanour helped alleviate distress.
The FAA has launched an investigation into the incident to assess the extent of the damage and ensure safety protocols are followed.