(Funny/Strange, Off-topic) Coyote FOD

[the_other_dougreeves]

As the saying goes, let's be careful out there.

From Aero-News.net

The pilots of a United Airlines 737 had a decidedly grisly emergency situation on takeoff from Denver Sunday. As the plane powered down the runway... a coyote strayed into the jet's path, and then into the airliner's number two engine.

Needless to say, that was the final end of a bad day for the coyote... but according to the FAA preliminary report, no one onboard the jet was injured.

There were some tense moments, though. The pilots completed the takeoff, and returned to the airport for a successful emergency landing.

Animal strikes are fairly common at many airports...especially those surrounded by wilderness areas or unincorporated countryside, like Denver International. The relatively low-hanging engines of the 737 may have also contributed to the incident.

We do not envy the mechanics who now have to return the engine to service. And no word if any roadrunners were involved.

IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 921UA Make/Model: B737 Description: 737
Date: 11/26/2006 Time: 0048

Event Type: Incident Highest Injury: None Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Unknown

LOCATION
City: DENVER State: CO Country: US

DESCRIPTION
N921UA, A UNITED AIRLINES UAL814 BOEING 737 ACFT, RETURNED AND LANDED DUE TO A COYOTE BEING INGESTED INTO THE NUMBER TWO ENGINE, NO INJURIES REPORTED, DENVER, CO

INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:

WEATHER: NOT REPORTED

OTHER DATA
Activity: Business Phase: Unknown Operation: OTHER

Departed: DENVER, CO Dep Date: Dep. Time:
Destination: Flt Plan: Wx Briefing:
Last Radio Cont:
Last Clearance:

FAA FSDO: DENVER, CO (NM03) Entry date: 11/27/2006