Back to the airport: Plane collides with coyote on take-off!

Chicago (Illinois/USA) - It happens time and again that birds get caught inaircraftengines, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing. In the US state of Illinois, however, another animal collided with a passenger plane - a coyote!

A United Airlines plane had to turn back because it collided with a four-legged friend during take-off. (archive photo)
A United Airlines plane had to turn back because it collided with a four-legged friend during take-off. (archive photo)  © Patrick Pleul/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa

As reported by"The Aviation Herald" and"Fox News", a United Airlines plane collided with the four-legged friend during take-off at Chicago O'Hare International Airport last Sunday morning, January 12 (local time).

The Boeing 737-9 Max was just about to accelerate when the coyote ran across the runway. Despite the collision, the plane was able to take off.

At an altitude of almost two kilometers, however, the pilots stopped the climb and returned to Chicago around 40 minutes after take-off - for safety reasons. The plane was slightly damaged in the coyote collision. It certainly didn't end quite so lightly for the animal.

A coyote was on the runway. (archive photo)
A coyote was on the runway. (archive photo)  © Rick Bowmer/AP/dpa

According to the Fox News report, there were six crew members and 167 passengers on board the plane. Apparently no one was injured. After around four hours, the Boeing was able to resume normal flight operations.