A JetBlue passenger aircraft was forced to return to Rhode Island's TF Green International Airport on Tuesday morning after striking a coyote during takeoff. Flight 1129, bound for New York's John F Kennedy International Airport, hit the animal shortly after departing at 6:16 am, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The plane initially continued its climb but turned back approximately 15 minutes later. Passenger Erin Drozda told WPRI that the captain announced, 'If anyone heard that thud, we hit a coyote, and we are now on our way back to Providence.' Drozda admitted she thought it was a joke at first, adding, 'You don’t ever hear that.'
Emergency crews were waiting on the tarmac when the flight landed at 6:40 am. After inspecting the front of the aircraft, passengers were asked to deplane for a full inspection. Drozda said the delay caused her and her wife to miss a connecting flight to Costa Rica, though they rebooked for the following day.
A JetBlue spokesperson confirmed the plane turned around 'out of an abundance of caution' and landed safely with no injuries. The aircraft later departed again shortly after 8:30 am and arrived at JFK just after 9 am. The collision did not affect other flights, a TF Green Airport spokesperson told CBS News.
