Incident
On February 15, 2017, at approximately 1142 eastern standard time, PSA Airlines flight 5320, a Bombardier CRJ700 registered as N709PS, struck a deer during takeoff from runway 36C at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), Charlotte, North Carolina. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger service from CLT to Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport (GPT), Gulfport, Mississippi.
Aftermath
According to the operator, the airplane struck a deer with its right wing during the takeoff roll. The crew continued the takeoff and declared an emergency. Before returning to land, the flight crew conducted a low pass down runway 36R for the airport rescue and firefighting (ARFF) to inspect the damage. ARFF observed damage to the right wing and reported vapor coming from it.
Evacuation and Damage
After landing on runway 36R, the flight crew elected to stop on the taxiway due to a fuel leak, where passengers were evacuated and bused to the terminal. Post-flight examination of the wing found substantial damage to the leading edge slats, slat tracks, flaps, and front spar of the right wing. There were no injuries to the 48 passengers and crew on board.