Created Thursday, Dec 1st 2022 17:10Z, last updated Thursday, Dec 1st 2022 17:10Z
A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-8 MAX, registration N8709Q performing flight
WN-1221 from Raleigh/Durham,NC to Chicago Midway,IL (USA) with 149 passengers and 6 crew, was departing Raleigh/Durham's runway 23L when the aircraft struck a coyote on the runway. The crew continued takeoff, climbed to safe altitude 4000 feet, reported they had an animal running across the runway from the terminal area to the east side and hit it pretty much on the center line, and returned to Raleigh/Durham for a safe landing on runway 23R about 45 minutes after departure.
The aircraft was able to depart again and reached Chicago with a delay of about 2:15 hours delay.
The airline reported the crew alerted tower to a possible wildlife strike on departure and returned to Raleigh. Maintenance later cleared the aircraft to depart again.
Related Flight:
WN1221, Twitter:
#WN1221,
Southwest Airlines News
