Allegiant Flight Returns to Clearwater After Bird Strike

Allegiant Air Flight 1536 experienced a bird strike shortly after taking off from St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport on Tuesday, leading the pilot to make a precautionary return to the airport. The flight, which was bound for Flint, Michigan, took off around noon and landed safely at approximately 12:15 PM, with no injuries reported among the 182 passengers and crew. Allegiant Air stated that the return was made out of an abundance of caution, and an FAA investigation into the incident is underway as standard procedure. Following the incident, a replacement aircraft was dispatched to continue transporting the passengers to their intended destination, albeit with a delayed arrival time. The aircraft involved will undergo thorough inspection before being cleared for future flights. This incident highlights ongoing concerns about aviation safety in light of recent high-profile crashes across the U.S.