'Loud Bang' Prompts LAX Passenger Jet To Abort Takeoff

LOS ANGELES, CA — A passenger flight headed to Everett, Washington from Los Angeles International Airport quickly aborted take off after striking a bird, according to reports.

According to KTLA, Horizon Flight 2052, an Embraer 175 operated by Alaska Airlines, was speeding down the runway at about 10 a.m. when passengers heard a loud bang.

The pilot slowed the plane and returned to the gate for inspection. A spokesperson for Horizon Airlines later confirmed the plane had hit a bird.

“Our pilots are trained for these situations and exited the runway safely without any issue,” the airline said in a statement. “We are swapping guests to another available aircraft, and we apologize for any concern or inconvenience this experience may have caused.”

Bird strikes are common, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, with 19,603 strikes reported in the U.S. in 2023.

Read more from KTLA: Flight aborts takeoff at LAX after ‘loud bang’