Overview
- The Boeing 737, which struck a flock of birds during takeoff Monday, declared a mayday on air traffic control and requested a priority return to Myrtle Beach.
- Passengers and another pilot recorded and reported visible smoke and flames from the plane’s left engine after the strike, and a passenger video captured the blaze in flight.
- Airport operations found a large amount of bird remains on the runway after departure and cleared the debris before the plane returned to land safely and taxiing to the gate.
- American Airlines said inspections after landing found no fire or fluid leaks, the aircraft was taken out of service for maintenance, and the carrier is working to move 172 affected customers to Charlotte.
- The FAA has opened a formal investigation using ATC audio, passenger video and recovered “snarge,” with samples possibly sent to the Smithsonian and placed in the context of tens of thousands of annual U.S. wildlife strikes.