An American Airlines Boeing 737 hit birds while taking off from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, leading to flames shooting from an engine and an emergency landing.
The pilot reported a engine problem shortly after takeoff, saying “Mayday, mayday, mayday. We’ve got a engine problem here.” The plane was originally headed to Charlotte, North Carolina, with 181 people on board.
A passenger on the flight recorded a video showing flames coming from the engine as the plane flew over water. Another witness on the beach heard loud popping noises and saw orange flashes coming from the left wing.
The plane eventually landed safely back in Myrtle Beach, and the aircraft has been taken out of service for inspection. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will investigate the incident.
According to the FAA, over 24,000 wildlife strikes were reported in the United States in 2025. The remains of the birds, called snarge, will be sent to the Smithsonian Institution’s lab in Washington D.C. for analysis to determine the species and help prevent future strikes.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
