A JetBlue flight bound for New York’s JFK Airport was forced to return to Rhode Island’s T.F. Green Airport shortly after takeoff on Tuesday. The reason? A collision with a coyote on the runway, according to WPRI-TV.
Erin Drozda, a passenger on Flight 1129, described hearing a “thud” during takeoff. “We were up in the air for 10 to 15 minutes, and then all of a sudden the captain came on and said, ‘This is the flight crew. If anyone heard that thud, we hit a coyote, and we are now on our way back to Providence,'” she recounted.
The initial reaction was disbelief. “We thought it was a joke at first,” Drozda added. “You don’t ever hear that.”
Upon returning to the airport, emergency crews were on standby. Drozda noted that the aircraft’s nose was inspected for damage before passengers were allowed to deplane for a more thorough assessment.
Data from FlightAware indicates the flight departed Rhode Island around 6:16 a.m., returned at 6:40 a.m., and finally took off again around 8:30 a.m., landing at JFK at 9:06 a.m.
The delay caused Drozda and her wife to miss a connecting flight to Costa Rica, but they were able to rebook for the following day.
A T.F. Green Airport spokesperson told CBS News that the incident did not affect other flights.
JetBlue stated that the return was “out of an abundance of caution” following a report of possible wildlife contact with the landing gear during takeoff. The airline confirmed a safe landing with no reported issues or injuries.
FOX Business has reached out to JetBlue and T.F. Green Airport for further details.
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