Overview
- The flight departed Myrtle Beach on Monday, Aug. 10, struck birds during takeoff, and the pilot declared a mayday after the left engine showed flames and heavy vibration.
- The crew circled and returned to Myrtle Beach, landed safely with no injuries, and the aircraft was taken out of service for maintenance inspections.
- Airport operations crews found a significant amount of bird remains on the runway and those remains will be examined in a lab to determine what species were involved.
- The Federal Aviation Administration has opened an official investigation to review the bird strike, the crew’s emergency response, and the airline’s inspection results.
- Wildlife strikes are a frequent, seasonal hazard for U.S. aviation—more than 24,000 were reported in 2025—and species analysis from recovered remains helps airports and airlines target mitigation like habitat control and runway monitoring.