American Airlines apologizes after bird strike diverts Charlotte-bound NY flight
An American Airlines flight from LaGuardia Airport in New York to Charlotte Douglas International Airport diverted Thursday night after a reported bird strike, the airline confirmed Saturday.
Flight 1722 landed safely at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, the airline said in an email to The Charlotte Observer.
No injuries were reported among the 190 passengers and six crew on the Airbus A321, according to the airline.
“We are grateful to our crew for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for the inconvenience this may have caused,” the airline said.
Passengers were given hotel accommodations, and the flight re-departed on Friday morning, airline officials said.
Passenger video reviewed by the Observer appeared to show one engine being struck. American Airlines didn’t provide further details, saying only that its maintenance crew is inspecting the plane.
“Miracle on the Hudson” bird strike flight
A 2009 bird strike during a flight from LaGuardia to Charlotte captures public attention to this day.
On Jan. 15, 2009, US Airways airline pilot Capt. C.B. “Sully” Sullenberger and his crew, landed Flight 1549 safely in New York’s Hudson River after a flock of geese struck both engines. The passengers and crew all survived the landing.
In June, Charlotte celebrated its new, $34 million state-of-the art aviation museum, named for Sullenberger to honor his safe piloting of the “Miracle on the Hudson” plane.
This story was originally published December 14, 2024 at 12:27 PM.