Charlottebound flight turns back to New York City after bird strike
Dec 13, 2024
QUEENS, NYC (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A Charlotte-bound American Airlines flight had to turn back Thursday night after a reported bird strike, the airline confirmed.
On Dec. 12, Flight 1722 from New York-LaGuardia International Airport (LGA) to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) made an emergency landing after hitting a bird shortly after takeoff. The flight was diverted to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), where it landed safely.
According to FlightAware, the flight left LGA at 7:43 p.m. and landed at JFK at 8:04 p.m. The plane, an Airbus A321, is being inspected by American's maintenance team at JFK.
In total, 190 customers and 6 crew members were onboard when the incident happened. No one was injured, airline officials say. The flight is rescheduled to leave for Charlotte around 9:42 a.m. Friday morning, and passengers have been given overnight hotel accommodation.
"We are grateful to our crew for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for the inconvenience this may have caused," the airline wrote.
A more serious bird strike from LaGuardia to Charlotte
On Jan. 15, 2009, Charlotte-bound U.S. Airways Flight 1549 departed from LaGuardia and hit a flock of geese on climb-out, knocking out both engines. Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger safely landed the Airbus A-320 on the Hudson River.
The incident has been monikered as 'The Miracle on the Hudson'. The Airbus A-320 was later moved to Charlotte, where it is housed at The Sullenberger Aviation Museum, which reopened under the new name over the summer.