United Plane Hits Coyote At O'Hare

CHICAGO — A United airplane hit a coyote over the weekend at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, according to the airline.

The incident occurred Sunday morning when the plane's landing gear struck the animal during takeoff, according to United, which said flight 1727 returned to O'Hare and another plane took travelers to their destination that afternoon.

The crash happened a day before a video was posted Monday on X of a coyote being pulled through the refrigerated shelves at an Aldi by its tail by an officer in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood.

January is the beginning of coyote mating season, when the animals are more active in urban areas, according to Chicago Animal Care and Control, which said the season ends in March.