Last updated: 17 January 2020
| Status: | Preliminary - official |
| Date: | Tuesday 10 May 2016 |
| Time: | 01:22 |
| Type: |  Airbus A321-211 |
| Operator: | American Airlines |
| Registration: | N189UW |
| C/n / msn: | 1425 |
| First flight: | 2001-01-19 (15 years 4 months) |
| Engines: | 2 CFMI CFM56-5B3/P |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Aircraft fate: | Repaired |
| Location: | Phoenix-Sky Harbor International Airport, AZ (PHX) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Initial climb (ICL) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Phoenix-Sky Harbor International Airport, AZ (PHX/KPHX), United States of America |
| Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, NC (CLT/KCLT), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | AA423 |
American Airlines flight AA423 returned to land at Phoenix-Sky Harbor International Airport, AZ (PHX) following a bird strike on departure. The aircraft, an Airbus A321-211, took off from runway 25R at 01:17 hours local time, bound for Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, NC (CLT). About 01:22 the flight contacted the Phoenix Departure controller, stating: "we just took a large bird strike". The flight crew decided to return to Phoenix Airport and received radar vectors back to the airport.
The aircraft was cleared for an approach and landing on runway 25R. An uneventful landing was carried out about 01:28.
According to the FAA there was substantial damage to the fuselage under the windshield. The FAA classified the event as an accident.
The aircraft was repaired and back in service on May 14.
Classification:
Bird strikeForced landing on runway
Sources:
» FAAPhotos
Video, social media
PHX Departure ATC audio (credit liveatc.net):
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Phoenix-Sky Harbor International Airport, AZ to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, NC as the crow flies is 2830 km (1769 miles).
Distance from Phoenix-Sky Harbor International Airport, AZ to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, NC as the crow flies is 2830 km (1769 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
