Bird Strike Damages American Airlines Jet Nose, Forces Diversion

An American Airlines regional flight departing Washington, D.C., was forced to divert shortly after takeoff when a bird strike damaged the aircraft’s nose, leaving a hole in the radome.

The incident occurred late Monday night, March 9, shortly after the aircraft departed Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The flight, American Airlines Flight 5561, had taken off just before 11:30 p.m. local time and was scheduled to fly to Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in Alabama.

The aircraft involved was a Bombardier CRJ-700 regional jet operated by PSA Airlines on behalf of American Airlines.

Shortly after takeoff from runway 15 at Reagan National Airport, the aircraft struck a bird during the initial climb. Despite the impact, the aircraft continued climbing to about 4,000 feet before initiating a diversion to Washington Dulles International Airport.

According to aviation incident reports, the aircraft safely diverted and landed at Dulles roughly 15 minutes after departure. A post-flight inspection revealed that the bird strike had punctured the radome, the aerodynamic nose cone that protects the aircraft’s weather radar system.

The radome, a combination of the words “radar” and “dome,” is a protective shell located at the front of an aircraft. It shields sensitive radar equipment used to detect weather systems and guide pilots through hazardous conditions. Damage to the radome can compromise the radar system if moisture or debris enters the housing.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the aircraft struck a bird during takeoff and that the flight landed safely at Washington Dulles International Airport around 11:45 p.m. local time. The flight remained airborne for less than 20 minutes before diverting.

No injuries were reported during the incident. Aviation authorities said the aircraft will undergo inspection and repairs before returning to service.

The FAA has opened an investigation into the incident as part of its standard review process for wildlife strikes involving commercial aircraft.

Bird strikes are a persistent operational hazard for airlines worldwide, particularly during takeoff and landing when aircraft are operating at lower altitudes where birds are more commonly present. The FAA has maintained a wildlife strike database since 1990 to track such incidents and improve safety mitigation strategies.

According to FAA statistics, approximately 291,600 wildlife strikes involving aircraft were reported in the United States between 1990 and 2023. In 2023 alone, more than 19,000 strikes were reported across 713 airports nationwide.

Data also shows that about 61 percent of bird strikes occur during the landing phase of flight, while roughly 35 percent occur during the takeoff run and initial climb, making the early stages of flight particularly vulnerable to wildlife hazards near airports.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, yahoo.com