Houston-bound Southwest flight diverted to BWI Airport after bird strike near D.C.

A Southwest Airlines flight from the D.C. area to Houston, Texas, made an unscheduled stop in Baltimore, Maryland, after the aircraft struck a bird Tuesday. The crew reported the bird strike after Southwest Flight 1379 took off from Reagan National Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.

The Boeing 737 MAX-8 landed safely at BWI Marshall Airport at around 3:15 p.m., the FAA and the airline said. “The pilots followed procedures and the flight landed uneventfully,” Southwest said. At BWI, passengers were moved to another aircraft.

According to FlightAware.com, their flight departed BWI for Houston’s Hobby Airport at 5:05 p.m. and was scheduled to land at 7:36 p.m. Related stories ‘Great job by the pilot’: Plane makes emergency landing at Montgomery County Airpark Washington Manassas Airport cleared to offer commercial airline flights Disruptive passenger duct-taped to first-class seat as plane makes emergency landing Bird strikes can be dangerous for aircraft, passengers and crew members.

An August 2026 FAA report said wildlife strikes killed 89 people and destroyed 128 civil and military aircraft between 1990 and 2025. The flight took off from Reagan National Airport. A Southwest Airlines flight bound for Houston, Texas was diverted to BWI Airport Tuesday afternoon after the plane struck birds, according to the FAA.