Bird Strike Forces Emergency Landing for American Airlines Flight 1722

An unexpected bird strike led to an emergency landing for American Airlines Flight 1722 shortly after its departure from New York’s LaGuardia Airport on Thursday evening.

A Routine Takeoff Turned Emergency

Flight AA1722 departed LaGuardia Airport at 7:43 p.m., bound for Charlotte Douglas International Airport. However, just eight minutes into its flight, the aircraft encountered a bird strike that severely impacted one of its two engines. The crew acted quickly, declaring an emergency and making the decision to divert the flight. The plane safely landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport at 8:03 p.m. and taxied to the terminal under its own power. Fortunately, none of the 190 passengers or six crew members on board were injured.

The flight was operated by an Airbus A321-200, with a registration of N133AN, delivered to American Airlines in March 2015

American Airlines promptly addressed the incident, issuing a statement:

“Flight 1722 diverted to Kennedy due to a reported bird strike. The aircraft landed safely at JFK where it will be inspected by our maintenance team. We are grateful to our crew for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for the inconvenience this may have caused.”

Passengers were rescheduled to depart on a replacement flight Friday morning as maintenance crews prepared to inspect and address the damage to the affected engine.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the incident. Bird strikes are a growing concern for the aviation industry, with 19,400 reported strikes across 713 U.S. airports last year alone. While bird strikes rarely cause significant damage to commercial aircraft, Thursday’s event serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers.

American Airlines Flight 1722 incident drew comparisons to the famous “Miracle on the Hudson” in 2009. In that event, a US Airways flight departing LaGuardia for Charlotte collided with a flock of birds, leading to a complete loss of power in both engines. Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger successfully executed an emergency water landing in the Hudson River, saving all 155 people on board. The heroic feat remains a benchmark for aviation safety and crisis management.

• Featured image by Nathan Coats

Youssef Yahya

Youssef Yahya is the CEO and Founder of Aviation for Aviators, a platform dedicated to the aviation industry. With over 3 years of experience as an aviation writer, Youssef is passionate about sharing his insights on aviation, entrepreneurship, and the broader business landscape. As a Teaching Assistant in Entrepreneurship at Nile University, he also nurtures the next generation of entrepreneurs. When he’s not exploring the skies or business ventures, you can find him saying, ‘Drag your coffee, and let’s talk aviation, entrepreneurship, and football.’

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