A US passenger plane was involved in a bizarre accident on Wednesday, when it struck a deer while attempting to take off.

UPI News reports that the aircraft, operated by American Eagle – a subsidiary of American Airlines – was damaged when it hit the unfortunately animal on the runway of Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina.

Passengers reported hearing a loud thud as the aircraft was accelerating for take-off. The impact appeared to do significant damage to the Bombardier jet, as it began leaking fluid and had to return to the terminal, where fire-fighters doused it with foam. No injuries were reported – apart from the deer, of course.

The FAA said the incident marked the sixth recorded collision between a plane and a deer at the airport since 1994.