AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT RETURNS SAFELY TO KEY WEST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AFTER ENGINE FAILS FOLLOWING BIRD STRIKE
KEY WEST – American Airlines flight 4680 returned safely to Key West International Airport on Sunday afternoon after a bird strike led to a problem with the left engine.
The Embraer 175 jet, which was operated by Republic Airways and destined for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, was carrying 67 people. All were uninjured.
“The flight crew did a great job of flying the aircraft safely back to the airport,” said Donald DeGraw, Director of Key West International Airport. “The airport’s fire department and mutual aid were called out, ready to respond, but fortunately they were not needed.”
Flight 4680 departed Key West at 1:50 p.m. and experienced the bird strike about “one minute after wheels up,” said Casey Norton, spokesperson for American Airlines. The plane landed about five minutes later.