CHARLOTTE, N.C. – An American Eagle jet struck a deer during takeoff from Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Wednesday.
The Federal Aviation Administration says the American Eagle CRJ700 declared an emergency and returned to the airport.
All 44 passengers on board the flight heading to Gulfport, Mississippi were evacuated with no injuries.
The plane hit the deer just before noon.
Video from a local television station news helicopter showed the plane dumping fuel before it landed.
Emergency crews immediately surrounded the plane and sprayed it with foam upon landing.