A recent flight returned to O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, after the plane's landing gear struck a coyote during takeoff. More than 160 passengers were on board.

A United Airlines flight declared an emergency on Sunday after hitting a coyote during takeoff at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, airline officials confirmed.

The United Airlines aircraft was carrying 167 passengers when it struck a coyote on Sunday, Jan. 12 in Chicago, the airline confirmed to PEOPLE in a statement

A United Airlines flight struck a coyote on the runway during takeoff from Chicago O’Hare International Airport, forcing the jet to return to the airport.

The landing gear of a United 737 hit a coyote as the plane took off Sunday morning for Phoenix. The plane turned around and safely landed back at O’Hare. The passengers and crew switched planes and left again later in the day.

CHICAGO (WLS/CNN/CNN Newsource/WKRC) - A United Airlines flight returned to the airport after striking a coyote during takeoff. A United Airlines flight was forced to return to Chicago O'Hare Airport on Sunday after the aircraft struck a coyote during takeoff.

Flight 1727 en route to Phoenix, Arizona was about to take off Sunday morning when its landing gear struck a coyote, a United Airlines spokesperson said in a statement to The Independent. As a result, the plane was forced to return to the gate and was taken out of service.

A United Airlines flight from Chicago to Phoenix had to return to O'Hare International Airport on Sunday morning after its landing gear struck a coyote during takeoff.

The Boeing 737 Max hit a coyote while taking off, forcing it to return to Chicago O’Hare after just 40 minutes of flying.

A United Airlines flight struck a coyote while attempting to take off from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport over the weekend, the airline confirmed Tuesday.

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