Alaska Airlines Deer Strike Grounds Kodiak Flights, No Injuries Reported

An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 struck at least two deer during its landing rollout at Kodiak Airport, Alaska, causing damage to the aircraft's main landing gear but no injuries to passengers or crew. The incident occurred around 8 a.m. and led to the cancellation of all passenger flights to and from Kodiak for the rest of Thursday, with early Friday flights also affected. The plane was able to safely taxi to the terminal, but the damage required repairs, and the aircraft has not flown since the incident. The FAA is investigating the event, noting that wildlife strikes at airports are common, with over 22,000 reported last year nationwide, including multiple deer strikes. Kodiak Airport, located near the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, has experienced previous animal strikes, primarily involving birds. Separately, a recent NTSB report revealed that an overloaded small plane carrying excessive moose meat and antlers led to a fatal crash in southwest Alaska, highlighting the risks of improper loading and excess weight in aviation safety.