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ANCHORAGE— An Alaska Airlines (AS) Boeing 737 MAX 8 sustained landing gear damage after colliding with a deer during touchdown at Kodiak Airport (ADQ) on July 24, 2025. The aircraft was operating flight AS231 from Anchorage (ANC) to Kodiak.
The one-year-old jet (registration N801AK) had completed the short 253-mile flight when it encountered three deer on runway 26 during landing. The incident has grounded the aircraft in Kodiak pending damage assessment.
Photo: By Quintin Soloviev – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=110510516Alaska Airlines 737 Collided with Three Deer
Flight AS231 from Anchorage (ANC) departed on schedule for its 39-minute hop to Kodiak (ADQ), a routine route for Alaska Airlines (AS).
Upon landing on the 7,534-foot runway 26, the aircraft deployed its reverse thrusters and spoilers as standard. Moments later, it collided with three deer that had strayed onto the active runway.
The landing gear sustained visible damage due to the impact, prompting Alaska Airlines to ground the aircraft for inspection and necessary repairs. No injuries to passengers or crew were reported, but all three deer were killed in the collision.
Initial reports and video footage suggest the deer appeared suddenly, leaving the pilots with no viable options to avoid impact without compromising safety. The jet remains parked at Kodiak Airport (ADQ), and there is no immediate timeline for its service return.
Photo: Alaska AirlinesHistory of Wildlife Hazards in Alaska
This is not the first time Alaska Airlines has faced wildlife-related incidents. In November 2020, a Boeing 737 hit a brown bear during landing at Yakutat Airport (YAK), causing significant engine damage.
Alaska’s vast wilderness and remote airports, often surrounded by dense forests and open fields, make such encounters more likely than in most U.S. states.
Kodiak Island, known for its wildlife population, poses unique challenges in runway safety management. While perimeter fencing and wildlife patrols are standard at most airports, rural airports like ADQ may have gaps in such preventive measures due to terrain and operational constraints.
Photo- Tomás Del Coro; Wikimedia CommonsAviation Safety and Mitigation Efforts
Wildlife incursions on runways are rare but dangerous. FAA regulations mandate regular runway inspections and wildlife hazard management plans, particularly at airports with frequent sightings.
The FAA and Alaska Department of Transportation are expected to review safety protocols at Kodiak Airport (ADQ) following this event.
Alaska Airlines (AS) has not issued a detailed statement beyond confirming the incident and stating the aircraft is undergoing evaluation. The airline is cooperating with airport authorities to investigate the breach and prevent future incidents.
Photo: Alaska DOTSimilar Incidents
Alaska Airlines (AS) has experienced multiple ground-related incidents in recent months, underscoring the importance of robust safety practices during non-flight operations.
On May 17, 2025, two Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 aircraft clipped wings during simultaneous pushback procedures at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).
The minor wingtip contact between a 737-800 and a 737-900, bound for Orange County (SNA) and Sacramento (SMF), prompted both aircraft to return to the gate.
No injuries were reported, and passengers were rebooked. The FAA launched an investigation into the ground-handling procedures involved.
Earlier in the year, on January 8, 2025, an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 veered off a taxiway during a repositioning maneuver at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC).
The incident occurred while two airline mechanics were moving the aircraft to a parking area. According to the Alaska Department of Transportation, the jet slipped into a ditch within a test zone, qualifying as a level-one, minor occurrence.
No passengers were on board, and airport operations were not affected. Alaska Airlines has assumed responsibility for the investigation and recovery planning.
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