CNBC AI News, July 27th — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating an incident involving an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 striking deer on a runway during landing, CNBC has learned.
The incident occurred at approximately 8:00 AM local time on Thursday at Kodiak Airport (ADQ) in Alaska. Alaska Airlines Flight AS231, operated by a 737 MAX 8 (tail number N801AK), encountered at least two deer on Runway 26 while landing.
According to audio recordings, the flight crew reported the presence of deer on the runway to air traffic control prior to touchdown. “Deer on the runway,” the pilot informed controllers shortly after receiving clearance to land. Despite the warning, the aircraft collided with the animals during its high-speed landing roll.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the passengers and crew. The aircraft was able to taxi to the gate under its own power. Initial assessments indicate that while the engines, a high-value component of the aircraft, were undamaged, the main landing gear sustained damage requiring repair. The deer, however, did not survive the impact.
The tower responded with, “Roger, do you know where they are currently?” The pilot replied, “Intersection.”
The incident raises questions about the decision to proceed with the landing despite the confirmed presence of wildlife on the runway. Aviation safety protocols typically dictate a go-around or a holding pattern to allow airport personnel to clear the obstruction.
Following the collision, the airport temporarily closed the runway to facilitate debris removal. Personnel recovered the remains of at least two deer.
This event underscores the growing concern surrounding wildlife strikes at airports. According to the FAA’s Wildlife Strike Database, over 22,000 wildlife strikes were reported in the United States last year alone. These incidents pose a significant threat to aviation safety and cost the industry millions of dollars annually in aircraft damage and operational disruptions.
In the past year, more than twenty instances of aircraft striking deer have been documented in the U.S. The FAA database also includes reports from 2024 detailing encounters with a diverse range of animals, including alligators in Florida, a mongoose in Hawaii, and a badger in North Dakota, alongside numerous collisions with coyotes, bats, skunks, and opossums.
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