March 12, 2026 — Washington, D.C.
American Airlines Flight 5561, operated by PSA Airlines on a Bombardier CRJ-700, suffered a bird strike that punched a hole in the radome during takeoff from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) on March 9, 2026. The flight, bound for Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM), climbed to 4,000 feet before diverting safely to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) around 11:45 p.m. local time, with no injuries reported.
The incident occurred just before 11:30 p.m. local time shortly after departing runway 15 at DCA. The aircraft was airborne for less than 20 minutes. Post-flight inspection revealed damage to the radome, the weatherproof nose cone protecting the radar system.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the event, stating:
The aircraft struck an object on takeoff from DCA and diverted to IAD and post flight inspection revealed a hole in the radome.
In a follow-up shared on March 12, the FAA noted:
Crews reported a bird strike shortly after takeoff.
The agency said the flight landed safely and is investigating the incident, as detailed in reports from People.com and AOL.com, the latter republishing the People article.
Incident Details
Flight tracking data shows the plane began a left turn toward IAD after reaching 4,000 feet. The radome damage could allow moisture to enter the radar system, potentially causing significant issues, though pilots managed the situation effectively.
No passenger accounts were reported in the coverage.
Broader Context on Bird Strikes
The FAA maintains a wildlife strike database recording incidents since 1990. Between 1990 and 2023, there were about 291,600 strikes, with roughly 19,400 at 713 U.S. airports in 2023 alone. Approximately 61% occur during landing and 35% during takeoff and climb phases. Worldwide, wildlife strikes have led to 499 human fatalities and 361 aircraft destroyed from 1988 to October 2024.
