The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating after an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 struck multiple deer while landing at Kodiak Benny Benson State Airport in Alaska on Thursday morning.
Flight 231 had departed Anchorage on a brief 39-minute journey and touched down at approximately 8 a.m. local time when the incident occurred. According to Alaska Airlines, at least two deer were on the runway during the landing rollout and were fatally struck.
“An inspection found damage to the aircraft’s main landing gear that will require repairs in Kodiak,” the airline said in a statement. “As a result, all passenger flights to and from Kodiak were canceled for the remainder of Thursday, and affected guests were rebooked on alternate flights.”
Pilots Spotted the Deer Before Landing
Air traffic control audio from LiveATC.net captured the tense moments as the pilots noticed animals on the runway.
“The intersection,” the pilot responded.
Airport Briefly Closed for Cleanup
The runway was closed temporarily while airport crews cleared the remains of the animals.
The damaged aircraft remains grounded in Kodiak and has not resumed service since the strike, according to flight tracking site FlightAware.
Wildlife Strikes Are More Common Than You Think
While collisions between commercial jets and deer may sound unusual, wildlife strikes are a frequent hazard for aircraft across the U.S. In 2023 alone, over 22,000 wildlife strikes were reported, according to the FAA’s wildlife strike database.
Nationwide, deer were involved in more than two dozen collisions with planes during the same period.
The FAA’s data also highlights some unusual encounters: in 2024, planes have collided with three alligators in Florida, a mongoose in Hawaii, a badger in North Dakota, and several coyotes, skunks, bats, and opossums.