A JetBlue Airbus A320 taking off from Rhode Island's T.F. Green Airport in Warwick on Tuesday morning had an unexpected run-in with a coyote, prompting Flight 1129 to turn back for an inspection. Passengers said they heard a loud "thud" just as the jet lifted off. No one was hurt, the aircraft later checked out fine, and it was eventually cleared to continue on to New York. One traveler said the delay caused her to miss a connecting trip to Costa Rica.
JetBlue: Flight returned 'out of an abundance of caution'
According to CBS Boston, JetBlue said Flight 1129 returned to Providence "out of an abundance of caution" after the aircraft's landing gear made contact with wildlife. The airline said a full inspection found no damage, and the flight later departed for JFK. Passenger Erin Drozda of Woonsocket told reporters "we heard a thud" and recalled that fire and EMS crews met the aircraft on the runway.
Wildlife on runways is a known safety risk
The Federal Aviation Administration tracks these kinds of encounters in a national wildlife strike database that logs thousands of reports each year, most involving birds but some involving mammals as well. Airports and airlines are urged to keep wildlife hazard management plans in place and to follow inspection protocols whenever a strike is suspected, according to the FAA.
What travelers should know
When flight crews suspect an animal strike, standard procedure calls for an inspection of the aircraft, deplaning passengers if needed, and having maintenance and emergency teams check key systems before anyone is cleared to take off again. A spokesperson for T.F. Green said the runway stayed open and other flights were not affected. The JetBlue flight later resumed service to New York, as CBS Boston reported.
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