Video footage reportedly shows an American Airlines plane engulfed in flames after a bird strike, prompting it to make an emergency landing at Myrtle Beach International Airport.
The incident took place on Monday morning when the pilot of American Airlines Flight 1760, which was en route to Charlotte with 172 passengers, radioed air traffic control to declare a “mayday.”
“Mayday, mayday, mayday, we have an engine problem here,” the pilot communicated. A passenger recorded another voice on the plane saying, “The engines are backfiring like crazy. I think she’s on fire right now.”
In a statement to Fox News Digital, American Airlines explained that the flight returned shortly after departure due to a maintenance issue. They confirmed that the aircraft landed safely and was subsequently grounded for inspection. The airline expressed gratitude for the professionalism of the crew and the understanding of the passengers.
Furthermore, American Airlines reported no visible signs of fire in the engine, and thankfully, there were no injuries. The exact cause of the flames remains unclear.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Flight 1760 safely returned to Myrtle Beach International Airport around 8:40 a.m. local time after the flight attendant noted a bird collision during takeoff. The Boeing 737-800 was intended for Charlotte Douglas International Airport, and the FAA stated that an investigation would be conducted.
LiveATC recordings revealed that air traffic control noted a “significant number” of birds were found on the runway and were removed following the incident.
The aircraft had taken off from Myrtle Beach at 8 a.m. ET and landed about 36 minutes later, as per FlightAware data.
The FAA also revealed that an estimated 292,000 wildlife strikes involving commercial aircraft occurred in the U.S. from 1990 to 2023. The authority indicated that around 54% of bird strikes happen between July and October, coinciding with the migration of young birds. Notably, 62% of these strikes occur during the day, with 8% at dawn or dusk, and 30% at night.
Additionally, the FAA reported that roughly 70% of bird strikes transpire at altitudes between 0 and 500 feet above the ground.
