A private jet carrying three passengers and two pilots struck and killed an alligator while taking off from Johns Island Airport Friday evening, then diverted to Charleston International Airport out of caution over possible landing gear damage. No injuries were reported aboard the aircraft, and the plane landed safely before taxiing to a private terminal to let everyone off.
Gator Strike Triggers Precautionary Landing
The aircraft was identified as an Embraer Phenom 300 registered out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, according to WCIV/ABC News 4. The pilots were concerned that the collision had damaged the plane's landing gear, prompting them to divert to Charleston International Airport. Officers with the Charleston Airport Police Department were dispatched around 8:40 p.m. on Nov. 6 once the situation was reported.
Once on the ground in Charleston, the jet was met by the Air Force Base Fire Department as a precaution. The station's report notes no visible damage to the aircraft. The plane was then able to safely taxi to Atlantic Aviation, where the crew and passengers deplaned without incident.
Cleanup Crews Clear Johns Island Runway
Back at Johns Island Airport, wildlife control and airport operations staff were sent out to clear the alligator carcass from the runway, per the same account.
Alligators have also appeared on Lowcountry airport taxiways. WCBD News 2 previously reported that a flight at Charleston International Airport was held up after a gator was spotted crossing a taxiway, with the pilot briefly pausing to let it pass rather than risk a strike.
Wildlife Strikes Are a Growing National Concern
Animal strikes on runways are also part of a broader pattern nationwide. A research paper published on arXiv found that reported wildlife strikes hit a series high in 2025, with 24,458 total reports and 901 classified as damaging, even as the overall share of strikes labeled damaging has trended downward over the decades as reporting of minor incidents has improved.
Not every strike involves something on the ground. In August, an American Airlines Boeing 737 struck birds while taking off from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, forcing an emergency landing back at the airport, according to CNN. That flight, carrying 181 people bound for Charlotte, North Carolina, landed safely, and the aircraft was pulled from service for inspection.
