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Last edited by Electronic gel (talk | contribs) 34 days ago. (Update) |
 A similar Alaska Airlines 737-200 | |
| Incident | |
|---|---|
| Date | March 30, 1987 |
| Summary | Fish strike |
| Site |
|
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Boeing 737-200QC |
| Operator | Alaska Airlines |
| Flight origin | Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, Seattle, Washington |
| 1st stopover | Juneau International Airport, Juneau, Alaska |
| 2nd stopover | Yakutat Airport, Yakutat, Alaska |
| Last stopover | Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith Airport, Cordova, Alaska |
| Destination | Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage, Alaska |
On March 30, 1987, a Boeing 737-200 operated by Alaska Airlines collided with a salmon shortly after takeoff from Juneau International Airport. A bald eagle which was grasping salmon in its talons flew into the path of the departing aircraft. The eagle dropped the fish, which subsequently impacted a small cockpit windshield. The flight was delayed for an hour during a damage inspection in a stopover at Yakutat, which only discovered a minor dent, a patch of scales, and spot of grease.
Incident
editThe aircraft involved in the incident was a Boeing 737-200QC operated by Alaska Airlines.[1] The combi aircraft was operating as Alaska Airlines Flight 61 on milk run from Seattle, Washington to Anchorage, Alaska, with stopovers in Juneau, Yakutat, and Cordova.[2] The pilots in command were Captain Bill Morin and First Officer Bill Johnson.[1][3] Captain Morin had seven years of flying experience while First Officer Johnson had three years of experience. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was also on board to monitor the crew's performance.[2]
The aircraft lined up on Runway 26 at Juneau for takeoff with First Officer Johnson flying. While taxiing to the runway, spotted several bald eagles south of the airport around Douglas Island.[2] Shortly after taking off, a bald eagle grasping a salmon in its talons began cross the flight path of the aircraft.[4]
Salmon-Thirty-Salmon livery
editIn 2005, Alaska Airlines painted a Boeing 737-800 with a salmon livery.
References
edit- 1 2 Reamer, David (July 31, 2022). "It's a bird! It's a fish? Alaska's history of collisions between planes and animals". Anchorage Daily News. Archived from the original on February 28, 2025. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
- 1 2 3 Uhr, Mac af. "Salmon-3-Salmon". Airways News. Archived from the original on October 23, 2006. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
- ↑ Lindsey, Marianne (February 5, 2015). "Throwback Thursday: Windshield sushi – Alaska Airlines jet really did hit a fish in midair". Alaska Airlines. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
- ↑ Orlean, Susan (May 17, 2023). "The Salmon in the Sky". The New Yorker. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
Alaska Airlines KTOO ADN New Yorker Alaska Beacon Smithsonian Mag NYT AP Airways Mag