American Airlines Bird Strike in Myrtle Beach Forces Mayday Declaration and Emergency Landing

An American Airlines bird strike Myrtle Beach incident forced a Boeing 737 to declare a Mayday emergency and make an immediate return landing after flames shot from one of its engines shortly after takeoff. Flight 2246, bound for Dallas/Fort Worth, encountered a flock of birds during its initial climb out of Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR). Passengers aboard the aircraft captured footage showing vivid compressor stalls and bright flames spewing from the right engine before flight crews safely executed an emergency turnaround. (To explore aviation safety trends and wildlife hazard mitigation, read our internalAviation Security & Safety Monitor(updates).

Emergency Turnaround and Ground Response in Myrtle Beach

Immediately following the engine ingestion, the flight crew declared a Mayday with local air traffic control, citing severe engine vibrations and loss of thrust on the affected engine. Consequently, fire and rescue teams mobilized along the runways at Myrtle Beach International Airport as the pilots initiated a rapid pattern loop to align with the landing corridor.

Flight Emergency Sequence

(Progression of events surrounding the bird strike incident)

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Takeoff & Bird Strike Encounter

(Boeing 737 ingests birds during initial climb out of Myrtle Beach)

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Compressor Stall & Flames

(Right engine suffers severe vibration, compressor stalls, and visual fire)

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Mayday Call & Emergency Declaration

(Flight crew issues a Mayday warning to air traffic controllers)

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Safe Emergency Landing

(Aircraft lands safely on Runway 18; emergency crews assess the jet on the tarmac)

Thanks to the swift execution of engine-failure procedures by the flight crew, the Boeing 737 landed safely without further incident, and all passengers and crew members disembarked normally at the terminal.

“The crew of American Airlines Flight 2246 reported a bird strike shortly after departure from Myrtle Beach. The aircraft returned safely and taxied to the gate under its own power.”

—Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), official incident advisory

Investigation and Wildlife Hazards in Aviation

Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) launched routine reviews to inspect the damaged engine and collect wildlife samples for species identification. Furthermore, American Airlines dispatched a replacement aircraft to transport stranded passengers to their final destination in Texas.

Aviation safety experts note that bird strikes during takeoff and landing phases remain one of the most common operational hazards for commercial airliners. Consequently, airports utilize specialized radar, sound deterrents, and habitat management to minimize wildlife risks near active flight corridors.

Incident Parameter / Metric	Emergency Details & Operational Status
Airline & Flight Number	American Airlines Flight 2246.
Aircraft Model	Boeing 737-800.
Location	Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR), South Carolina.
Incident Cause	Bird strike resulting in right engine compressor stall and fire.
Outcome	Successful Mayday emergency landing; zero injuries reported.

Sources

• Reuters Transportation– American Airlines flight makes emergency landing after engine bird strike
• Associated Press– Flames seen spewing from jet engine following bird strike at Myrtle Beach airport
• FAA Aviation Safety Network– Incident report: American Airlines Boeing 737 returns to Myrtle Beach