Archive · 11 Aug 2026
American Airlines Boeing 737 makes emergency landing after bird strike
A big passenger plane was flying to one city when it hit some birds in the sky.
Hitting birds can hurt planes, and this time it hurt the engine.
The engine started to shoot flames and make loud, popping sounds.
The pilot used a special emergency word called 'Mayday' to call for help.
The pilot was very skilled and landed the plane safely at a different airport.
Everyone on the plane was okay and nobody was hurt.
The airline checked the plane and then gave the passengers a new plane to finish their trip.
Hitting birds happens more often than people might think.
That is why pilots are trained to stay calm and land safely when something goes wrong.
American Airlines Flight 1760, a Boeing 737 carrying 172 people, made an emergency landing at Myrtle Beach International Airport after a bird strike.
The pilot issued a 'Mayday' call over air traffic control, reporting an engine problem after the strike.
A passenger video shows flames shooting from the aircraft, with the engine described as 'backfiring like crazy.'
No one was injured, and American Airlines moved passengers to another aircraft to continue their journey to Charlotte.
The aircraft was removed from service for inspections; the FAA has recorded nearly 8,300 animal strikes so far this year.
- Who
- American Airlines Flight 1760, a Boeing 737 carrying 172 people
- What
- Suffered a bird strike that caused engine problems and visible flames, leading to an emergency landing
- When
- Monday morning
- Where
- Landed at Myrtle Beach International Airport while en route to Charlotte
- Why
- The bird strike damaged the aircraft's engine, prompting the pilot to declare a Mayday emergency
- Airline
- American Airlines
- Flight
- 1760
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737
- People on board
- 172
- Destination
- Charlotte
- Incident
- Bird strike causing engine problem and flames
- Emergency landing site
- Myrtle Beach International Airport
- Injuries
- None reported