American Airlines Plane Strikes Birds During Takeoff, Engine Fire Forces Emergency Landing

An American Airlines Boeing 737 was forced to make an emergency landing in the United States after striking birds during takeoff from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, causing one of its engines to catch fire.

The incident occurred Monday on Flight 1760, which was traveling to Charlotte, North Carolina. There were 181 people on board.

According to CNN, just moments after takeoff, the pilot notified the control tower of the engine malfunction and issued a distress signal. In an audio recording of communications with air traffic control, the captain can be heard saying: “We have an engine problem.”

Another pilot who witnessed the incident reported over the radio that the Boeing had struck birds. According to the pilot, the birds appeared to have hit the left engine.

Patrick Gottwald, one of the passengers on the flight, filmed flames coming from the engine as the plane remained airborne and flew over the sea.

The Boeing then began maneuvering back toward the airport, while emergency crews on the ground had already been placed on standby. The plane returned to Myrtle Beach airport and landed safely.