There were initial sightings of coyotes on the expressway out West, followed by one that was spotted acting erratically in an Aldi store in Humboldt Park. Most recently, a plane struck a coyote during takeoff at Chicago O’Hare Airport on Sunday. The aircraft declared an emergency and returned to the airport, according to officials.
According to the airline, United flight 1727 safely returned to O’Hare around 10:45 a.m. “to examine the aircraft after its landing gear struck a coyote during takeoff.”
The plane, which carried 167 passengers and six crew members, was scheduled to fly to Phoenix and another plane took passengers to their destination later that afternoon.
The pilot declared an emergency and could be heard on air traffic control audio saying, “During the rotation we hit a pretty big animal and we’re suspecting of causing damage the nose and landing gear.”
Advertisement
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating.
