FlightFollowerBird Strike Disables Engine on American A321 After LaGuardia Departure
The bird strike happened during the initial climb
American Airlines Flight 1722 departed LaGuardia for Charlotte when a bird strike shortly after takeoff disabled one of the Airbus A321's two engines. The crew continued the climb, coordinated a diversion to John F. Kennedy International Airport and landed safely there about twenty minutes later. No injuries were reported among the people aboard.
The engine damage followed a bird strike
Contemporary reports state that a bird was struck and ingested by one of the engines during the initial climb. The event disabled that engine and required the flight crew to return to the New York airport system.
The crew chose JFK
Rather than return to LaGuardia, the flight was diverted to JFK. The aircraft remained airborne long enough to coordinate the diversion and then landed safely. The airline said the aircraft would be inspected by maintenance after arrival.
The event is a useful example of why an engine problem does not automatically mean a loss of control
The A321 has two engines, and the crew continued to manage the aircraft after the bird strike disabled one. The flight remained controlled throughout the diversion. No final maintenance finding beyond the reported bird-strike/engine event is assigned here.
American Airlines confirmed the diversion was due to a: “reported bird strike”
Accident Facts
- Aircraft
- American Airlines Flight 1722
- Date
- 12 December 2024
- Location
- Airbus A321
- Category
- Diverted to JFK
Sources
- Associated Press report carried by CBS News: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/possible-bird-strike-american-airlines-jet-emergency-landing-jfk-airport/
- Storyful incident account: https://video.storyful.com/record/33565
- The Guardian/AP report: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/13/bird-strike-american-airlines-laguardia