During takeoff from Myrtle Beach in South California on Monday, Aug. 10, an American Airlines B737 hit several birds, causing flames to shoot from the aircraft’s engine. The IncidentOnboard American Airlines Flight 1760, 181 passengers were flying towards Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) in North Carolina. However, during takeoff, the aircraft hit birds, causing flames and eventually becoming an emergency large enough to force the plane to return to its original destination. Patrick Gotwalt was a passenger on flight 1760 and managed to film the engine shooting fire from his seat. Airlines’ Engine Issues24,000 wildfire plane strikes were recorded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2025.