An American Airlines flight made an emergency landing in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, shortly after takeoff on Monday. The crew reported a bird strike that led to an engine issue, prompting the pilot to declare a mayday and request emergency vehicles.
Air traffic control audio captured the urgency of the moment, with the pilot declaring an engine malfunction. Passenger Patrick Gotwalt, seated near the wing, recorded a video showing flames coming from the right engine as the aircraft flew over water.
The aircraft, Flight 1760, had 172 customers onboard and was headed to Charlotte, North Carolina. Airport rescue personnel later confirmed the bird strike, reporting a lot of bird debris on the runway.
The airline stated that the aircraft returned to Myrtle Beach shortly after departure due to a maintenance issue and landed safely. No injuries were reported, and the airline is working to get customers to their destination as soon as possible.
Original reporting: NBC Connecticut — read the source article.
