'Fish strike' prevents airplane from taking off from MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa

TAMPA, Fla., March 6 (UPI) -- In addition to watching out for aerial obstacles like birds (and other planes) during takeoff, it appears that pilots should add another potential hazard to their list of concerns -- flying fish.

According to a story on MacDill Air Force Base’s website, a plane that tried to take off from the Tampa Bay-area military base in September was the victim of a “fish strike.”

During takeoff, a plane being flown by a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration pilot was struck by a 9-inch sheepshead and the crew opted to keep the plane on the ground.

“We were nearing the point in the takeoff where we needed to rotate, or raise the nose of the airplane off the ground, when an osprey with something in its claws flew in front of our aircraft,” said Lt. Cmdr. Nick Toth, the NOAA pilot.

A crew swept the runway after the aborted takeoff and discovered the sheepshead. “We continued our search and were surprised to find a 9-inch sheepshead lying near the end of the runway,” said 6th Air Mobility Wing Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard contractor Lindsey Garven.

MacDill Air Force Base has been referring to the incident as the “Fishnado!”

"As comical as this event is, the underlying lesson is that vigilance with regards to wildlife on and around the runway is necessary to keep all aircrew and aircraft safe and to maintain our goal of mission readiness," stated Garven.

[MacDill Air Force Base]