An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 struck three deer while landing at Kodiak Airport on July 24, 2025, causing damage to the plane’s main landing gear but leaving all passengers and crew unharmed. The incident, which happened at about 8:00 a.m. local time on flight AS231 from Anchorage, led to the deaths of all three deer and forced the grounding of the aircraft at Kodiak Airport. The event has triggered a full investigation and a review of wildlife safety measures at the airport.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 remains grounded at Kodiak Airport as of July 26, 2025, while Alaska Airlines and airport authorities assess the damage and plan repairs. There is no set date for when the aircraft will return to service. All passenger flights to and from Kodiak were cancelled for the rest of July 24, and Alaska Airlines rebooked affected travelers on other flights. The airline apologized for the disruption and is working closely with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Alaska Department of Transportation (DOT) to investigate how the deer accessed the runway.

Alaska Airlines confirmed the incident and stated, “We are working with airport officials and the FAA to understand how this happened and to prevent it from happening again.” The airline also said it is cooperating fully with the investigation and is focused on passenger safety and minimizing further disruptions. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the airline’s quick response and transparent communication helped reduce confusion for travelers, but the event highlights ongoing safety challenges at rural airports.
The FAA and Alaska DOT are expected to review and possibly update wildlife hazard management plans at Kodiak Airport. While no detailed public statement has been released yet, both agencies have started a regulatory review to determine what changes are needed to prevent future wildlife collisions. Airport authorities are also involved in the investigation and are considering new measures to keep animals off the runway.
Wildlife hazards are a known risk at many of Alaska’s rural airports, including Kodiak. These airports are often close to wilderness areas and may have limited fencing or other barriers to keep animals away. In 2020, another Alaska Airlines 737 struck a brown bear at Yakutat Airport, causing serious engine damage. Such incidents show that wildlife strikes, while rare, are a persistent problem in Alaska due to the state’s unique environment.
FAA rules require airports with frequent wildlife sightings to have regular runway inspections and wildlife hazard management plans. However, the terrain and remote locations of many Alaskan airports make it hard to fully meet these requirements. The FAA’s Wildlife Hazard Management page explains the steps airports must take to reduce the risk of animal strikes, but local conditions can make these steps difficult to carry out.
Alaska Airlines has faced several ground-related incidents in 2025, including a wingtip collision at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in May and a taxiway excursion in Anchorage in January. These events, along with the recent deer collision, underline the need for strong safety protocols and ongoing review of airport operations.
The immediate effects of the Kodiak Airport incident included the cancellation of all flights to and from the airport on July 24, inconvenience for passengers, and the grounding of a relatively new Boeing 737 MAX 8 for repairs. Alaska Airlines worked quickly to rebook travelers and offered apologies for the disruption. The airline’s customer service team remains available to help affected passengers with rebooking and other needs.
Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 struck three deer while landing
All flights to and from Kodiak were cancelled
Immediate inspection of the aircraft for damage
Filing of incident reports with the FAA
Boeing 737 MAX 8 remains grounded at Kodiak Airport
In the medium term, the FAA and Alaska DOT are likely to review and tighten wildlife hazard management at Kodiak and possibly other rural airports in Alaska. Possible changes may include:
- Stronger perimeter fencing to keep animals off the runway
- More frequent wildlife patrols to spot and move animals away before flights
- Increased runway inspections before landings and takeoffs
- Updated wildlife hazard management plans that reflect local risks and conditions
In the long term, the FAA may consider updating its policies or providing more funding for wildlife mitigation at rural airports, depending on the results of the investigation and the recommendations that follow. These changes could help reduce the risk of future wildlife strikes and improve safety for both passengers and crew.
Aviation safety experts stress that while wildlife strikes are not common, they are a real risk at airports near wilderness areas. They recommend a mix of physical barriers, active wildlife management, and new technology, such as runway surveillance systems, to help spot and prevent animal incursions. Local authorities in Alaska point out that managing wildlife is especially hard in their state, where the land and environmental rules can limit what kinds of fencing or barriers can be used.
Passenger advocates say that clear communication and fast rebooking are key after such incidents. Alaska Airlines’ quick response helped reduce stress for travelers, but the event shows the need for ongoing improvements in both safety and customer service.
After the incident, the following steps were taken:
Incident Type | Date | Location | Impact |
---|---|---|---|
N/A | July 24, 2025 | Kodiak Airport | Grounding of Boeing 737 MAX 8, cancellation of flights |
N/A | 2020 | Yakutat Airport | Serious engine damage to Alaska Airlines 737 |
N/A | May 2025 | Seattle-Tacoma International Airport | Ground-related incident |
N/A | January 2025 | Anchorage | Ground-related incident |
- Immediate inspection of the aircraft for damage to the landing gear and structure.
- Grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 at Kodiak Airport for repairs, with no set timeline for its return.
- Cancellation and rebooking of all flights to and from Kodiak on July 24, with Alaska Airlines helping passengers find other travel options.
- Filing of incident reports with the FAA by Alaska Airlines and airport authorities.
- Start of a regulatory review by the FAA and Alaska DOT to look at wildlife hazard management at Kodiak Airport.
Looking ahead, the FAA and Alaska DOT are expected to release a detailed report on the incident, with recommendations for better wildlife management at Kodiak and similar airports. New or improved wildlife mitigation steps may be put in place at rural airports across Alaska. If the investigation finds gaps in current policies, the FAA could make broader changes to wildlife hazard management rules for all U.S. airports facing similar risks.
For travelers and community members, the key takeaways are:
- The July 24, 2025, deer collision at Kodiak Airport caused flight disruptions and started a review of wildlife safety practices.
- No one was hurt, but the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 remains out of service for repairs.
- The FAA and Alaska DOT are expected to announce new safety measures after their investigation.
- The event highlights the ongoing challenge of running safe flights in Alaska’s wildlife-rich areas and the need for strong, flexible safety plans.
For more information or updates, travelers can visit the Alaska Airlines official website or contact Kodiak Airport administration. The FAA’s Wildlife Hazard Management page also offers details on airport safety rules and wildlife management steps.
Learn Today
Boeing 737 MAX 8 → A popular narrow-body jet aircraft used by many airlines, including Alaska Airlines.
Kodiak Airport → A rural airport in Alaska near wilderness prone to wildlife runway incursions.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) → US government agency regulating civil aviation safety and airport operations.
Wildlife Hazard Management → Plans and measures to prevent animal collisions with aircraft at airports.
Landing Gear → The undercarriage of an aircraft used during landing, takeoff, and ground movement.
This Article in a Nutshell
On July 24, 2025, an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 8 struck three deer at Kodiak Airport, grounding the plane and grounding flights. The FAA and Alaska DOT began safety reviews. The incident spotlights ongoing wildlife risks at rural Alaskan airports, pushing for stronger protections and prompt passenger support.
— By VisaVerge.com