CLEARWATER, Fla. – Passengers aboard Allegiant Air Flight 1536 bound for Flint, Michigan, experienced an unexpected delay Tuesday after their aircraft struck a large bird shortly after takeoff from St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport.
The incident occurred around midday, just before noon, as the flight was departing. Passengers reported noticing something was wrong shortly after takeoff. According to Allegiant Air, the pilot made the decision to return to Clearwater “out of an abundance of caution” after the bird strike.
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The plane landed safely at St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport around 12:15 p.m. without any issues. Allegiant Air stated that maintenance crews would thoroughly inspect and assess the aircraft before it is cleared for further flights.
To minimize passenger disruption, Allegiant Air quickly dispatched a replacement aircraft to Clearwater to transport the passengers to Bishop International Airport in Flint.
The incident comes at a time when aviation safety is particularly sensitive, following several recent plane crashes across the United States.
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This includes the tragic mid-air collision in Washington, D.C., in January, which resulted in 67 fatalities, and a separate plane crash in Philadelphia last month that killed seven and injured 19.
Despite the heightened anxiety surrounding air travel, Allegiant Air emphasized that the return to Clearwater was a precautionary measure, and all passengers and crew were safe.
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