Bird strikes forced two passenger jets to make emergency landings in Illinois.
The two jets experienced the strikes on Thursday, sparking the emergency landings, which ended safely, according to Fox News.
Allegiant Air’s flight 1671 from Chicago Rockford International Airport to Punta Gorda, Florida, experienced a bird strike to its No. 1 engine before it was shut down by the captain. The aircraft, which was carrying nearly 180 passengers and six crew members, returned safely to Rockford.
They later took flight again by way of a replacement aircraft.
“The aircraft experienced a bird strike to its number one engine in flight, and per safety procedures the captain shut down the engine,” said Allegiant spokeswoman Hilarie Grey in an emailed statement, per the Chicago Tribune. “The aircraft returned to Rockford, landed safely and was met by airport fire crews. Passengers deplaned at the gate.”
“We apologize to our passengers for the inconvenience and disruption to their plans,” he said.
Grey also said the passengers were given $100 vouchers toward future travel with Allegiant as well as food benefits as a result of the inconvenience, NBC News 2 noted.
The second jet, flight 105 from Chicago Midway International Airport to McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, made a safe landing back at Midway following the Thursday morning bird strike. Southwest Airlines said the some 164 passengers and six members arrived in Vegas on a different aircraft late Thursday evening.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.