Southwest Airlines Flight Diverts After Bird Strike During Departure

Baltimore, MD, September 8, 2026 — A Southwest Airlines flight en route from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to Houston experienced a diversion on its departure due to an in-flight incident. The aircraft, carrying passengers, struck a bird shortly after taking off from DCA.

Following the bird strike, the flight crew made the decision to divert to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) as a precautionary measure. The exact timing of the bird strike relative to the departure from DCA was not specified. The purpose of the diversion was to allow for a thorough inspection of the aircraft by maintenance personnel to ensure its continued airworthiness.

The flight originated from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, commonly known as DCA, with Houston as its intended destination. The detour brought the aircraft to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), where it landed without further incident. The airline’s operations team was reportedly involved in assessing the situation upon arrival at BWI.

Details regarding the specific aircraft involved, the number of passengers onboard, or the exact timeline of the event were not immediately available. The airline’s standard procedures for bird strike incidents involve grounding the aircraft for inspection before it is cleared to resume service. Information on when passengers were able to continue their journey to Houston was not provided.

Story summarized from the original created by Bryan Lynn on www.cbsnews.com, see more information here.

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