The Allegiant aircraft suffered damage to both engines due to a bird strike
On January 26, 2024, an Allegiant Airbus A320-200 passenger plane struck two birds, damaging its engines midair. The passengers were en route from Phoenix to Des Moines Airport in Iowa.
The incident occurred shortly after departure from Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. The collision with the birds caused damage to both engines simultaneously, as reported by Simple Flying.
Although classified as minor, the incident forced the flight to be aborted, and the aircraft had to return.
The aircraft returned to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport and landed safely. Fortunately, none of the passengers or crew were injured.
Following the landing, the airline's maintenance team promptly commenced inspecting and troubleshooting the aircraft. The repairs were completed within two days, and the aircraft resumed operations.
Reportedly, the aircraft reached an altitude of 6,000 feet after takeoff, at which point it collided with birds. The return flight proceeded without incident, and the aircraft landed back at the airport after only 26 minutes, covering a distance of just 47 miles.