Flight safety was pushed into the spotlight this week after a Cessna Citation jet collided with several deer during its takeoff from North Palm Beach County General Aviation Airport. The incident, which took place around 7:55 p.m. on Tuesday, was confirmed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Despite the mid-takeoff collision, the aircraft was able to make a secure landing at Palm Beach International Airport, as reported by CBS12.
The specifics of the deer’s condition and the exact number of animals hit remain unclear. However, the FAA is currently conducting an investigation into the peculiar occurrence. Wildlife strikes, while not an everyday event, have been meticulously recorded by the FAA since 1990. Instances like these where terrestrial mammals like deer and coyotes collide with aircraft are rare but notable when they do occur.
In a detailed report provided by WPBF 25 News, Michael Leighton, a seasoned pilot, expressed his thoughts on the rarity of such collisions. “It is an extremely, extremely rare event, like getting hit by lightning or getting bit by a shark. It’s not something that happens. You could fly your whole life, your entire life. I’ve got 16,000 flight hours, that’s two full years off the surface of the Earth, and I’ve never hit an animal with an airplane. Can it happen? Sure. Is it likely to happen? Probably not,” Leighton told WPBF 25 News…