A routine domestic flight in the United States encountered trouble just minutes before landing when a bird strike damaged one of the aircraft’s engines.
On March 12th 2026, a Delta Air Lines Boeing 717-200, registration N996AT, operating flight DL-1541 from Detroit to St. Louis with 108 passengers and 4 crew members on board, was on approach to St. Louis Lambert International Airport.
During the approach to runway 11, the aircraft sustained a bird strike which affected the right-hand Rolls-Royce BR715 engine. The impact resulted in engine-related issues and visible damage.
Despite the incident, the crew continued the approach and landed the aircraft safely on runway 11 approximately 25 minutes later.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the aircraft experienced problems with its number two engine due to a bird strike on landing and reported damage to the engine.
Following the arrival, the aircraft was taken out of service and remained on the ground in St. Louis until March 15th 2026 while maintenance teams inspected the engine and carried out necessary repairs.
Bird strikes are a known hazard in aviation, particularly during takeoff and landing phases, when aircraft operate at lower altitudes where birds are more commonly encountered.