An American Airlines flight from New York’s LaGuardia Airport was forced to make an emergency landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) after a bird strike disabled one of its engines. The incident occurred shortly after the plane’s takeoff, leading to a quick decision by the pilot to return to JFK.
Incident Details and Immediate Response
Flight 1722, an Airbus A321, departed LaGuardia at 7:43 p.m. on Thursday, bound for Charlotte, North Carolina. Just minutes after takeoff, the aircraft encountered a bird strike that disabled one of its two engines. At 7:52 p.m., the pilot declared an emergency, and the flight was diverted back to JFK for an emergency landing. The aircraft landed safely at 8:03 p.m. and taxied to the terminal without incident.
According to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, there were 190 passengers and six crew members on board, and no injuries were reported. American Airlines confirmed that the flight was rescheduled for Friday morning, after a thorough inspection of the plane.
Rising Number of Bird Strikes
Bird strikes are becoming an increasing concern for aviation safety, with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reporting a rise in these incidents. Last year alone, there were 19,400 bird strikes recorded across 713 airports in the U.S. While most bird strikes do not result in major incidents, this event highlights the potential dangers these collisions can pose to commercial flights. The FAA has launched an investigation into the specifics of Thursday’s bird strike.
The incident brought to mind the famous “Miracle on the Hudson,” where a similar bird strike resulted in the loss of both engines of a US Airways flight in January 2009. The heroic landing by Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger in the Hudson River saved the lives of all 155 people on board.
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