Officials: Dead armadillo delays 40 flights at Orlando International Airport | FOX 35 Orlando

Officials: Dead armadillo delays 40 flights at Orlando International Airport

FILE - Airliners wait for takeoff in a queue at runways 36L and 36R at Orlando International Airport, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, after the FAA grounded all U.S. flights earlier in the day. Flights were grounded nationwide for the first time since the

More than 40 flights were delayed at Orlando International Airport Wednesday morning after an animal was hit and killed on one of the runways.

Initially, the FAA reported on its website that there may have been a bird strike at the airport. However, officials for the airport clarified that there was not a bird strike and that an armadillo had been hit and killed on the runway.

Pilots aboard a Southwest Airlines plane that was in the process of landing at MCO spotted the dead animal and reported it to officials, the airport said. 

The runway had to be closed in order for teams to remove the animal's remains. The runway was closed for 20 minutes, which resulted in 43 flight delays.

Two other runways were also undergoing routine maintenance and construction, which furthered the impact, the airport said.

Orange CountyNewsOrlandoTravelFlorida