:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/north-county-general-aviation-airport-021326-66f2b967023a48b594785caf9fc584f3.jpg?ssl=1 "Private Jet Strikes Several Deer During Takeoff, Forcing Emergency Landing at Florida Airport")
The incident occurred at North Palm Beach County General Aviation Airport Feb. 10, with the plane landing safely at Palm Beach International Airport
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- A plane taking off from North Palm Beach County General Aviation Airport in Florida hit multiple deer on Tuesday, Feb. 10, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said
- The agency said the aircraft landed safely at Palm Beach International Airport following the incident
- According to local media outlet WPBF 25 News, the private jet was forced to make an emergency landing
A private jet had to make an emergency landing after hitting multiple deer while taking off in Florida on Tuesday.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced in a notice that the incident occurred at North Palm Beach County General Aviation Airport at around 7:55 p.m. local time on Feb. 10.
A Cessna Citation aircraft was taking off from the airport when it struck the animals, according to the FAA.
“The aircraft landed safely at Palm Beach International Airport,” officials stated.
The FAA did not state the number of deer involved, but said the incident is being investigated.
The aircraft had seven occupants, according to a report by the Aviation Safety Network. The report also stated that the aircraft had minor damage but there were no reported injuries.
PEOPLE has contacted the FAA and the Palm Beach International Airport for comment.
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In dispatch audio obtained by local media outlet WPBF 25 News, an individual could be heard saying that the plane had minor damage and it would have to be towed away from the area.
According to the outlet, the private jet made an emergency landing.
From 1990 to 2024, 656 species of birds, 57 species of terrestrial mammals, 52 species of bats, and 45 species of reptiles have been struck by an aircraft, according to data obtained by the outlet.
"It is an extremely, extremely rare event, like getting hit by lightning or getting bit by a shark. It's not something that happens,” local pilot Michael Leighton told the outlet. “You could fly your whole life, your entire life. I've got 16,000 flight hours, that's two full years off the surface of the Earth, and I've never hit an animal with an airplane. Can it happen? Sure. Is it likely to happen? Probably not.”
