JetBlue traveler Desiree Salter shared footage of herself anointing an aircraft with oil on online platforms on Feb. 15. The video subsequently gained widespread attention, particularly in the wake of recent aviation occurrences. Credit: @desireesalter /TMX
An aircraft operated by JetBlue was compelled to return shortly after its departure Tuesday, subsequent to allegedly colliding with a coyote on the airstrip of a Rhode Island airport.
JetBlue Flight 1129, destined for New York’s JFK Airport, impacted the creature as it departed from T.F. Green Airport Tuesday morning, as reported by WPRI-TV. Despite the aircraft initially maintaining its upward trajectory, it reverted to Rhode Island approximately 15 minutes thereafter.
Erin Drozda, a traveler aboard the aircraft, recounted hearing “a discernible impact sound” during the plane’s ascent.
“We were aloft for between 10 and 15 minutes, and then abruptly the pilot announced, ‘This is the flight crew. Should anyone have heard that impact, we collided with a coyote, and we are now en route to return to Providence,’” she conveyed to the broadcaster.
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A JetBlue aircraft reverted to a Rhode Island airport following an alleged animal impact during its departure on March 24. (AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images / Getty Images)
“Initially, we perceived it as a jest,” she appended. “Such an occurrence is unheard of.”
Drozda mentioned that contingency teams were positioned on the airstrip upon the aircraft’s reversion.
She stated that personnel examined the forward section of the plane for any harm prior to requesting travelers to disembark, enabling a comprehensive examination to be finalized.
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JetBlue aircraft situated at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) within New York’s Queens borough on Dec. 26, 2025. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
“We disembarked the aircraft and remained indoors for roughly an additional thirty minutes, and then we were informed that all was well, and we could reboard the aircraft,” she conveyed to the broadcaster.
Based on FlightAware statistics, the aircraft left Rhode Island close to 6:16 a.m. and reverted to T.F. Green by 6:40 a.m. It then re-departed just past 8:30 a.m. and arrived at JFK by 9:06 a.m.
Drozda indicated that the hold-up resulted in her and her spouse forfeiting their onward journey to Costa Rica; however, they succeeded in rescheduling for Wednesday.
A representative from T.F. Green Airport informed CBS News that the occurrence had no effect on other departures.
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JetBlue Flight 1129 reverted to T.F. Green Airport roughly a quarter of an hour post-departure, following an alleged collision with a wild canine on the airstrip. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images / Getty Images)
JetBlue stated the plane reverted “as a precautionary measure” following an account of the undercarriage encountering wildlife during its ascent. The carrier further mentioned that the journey concluded without incident, and no complications or harm were documented.
FOX Business has contacted JetBlue and T.F. Green Airport seeking further details.