JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As millions of travelers take to the skies this Christmas holiday, safety teams at Jacksonville International Airport are focused on a threat most passengers never see: wildlife on and near the runway.
In 1988, a pair of wild pigs wandered onto the runway of an F-16 fighter jet, forcing the pilot to eject as it veered off the runway and crashed at JIA, according to the Associated Press.
The pilot was bruised when he landed, the pigs died, and the $16 million jet was destroyed.
Airport officials at JIA said preventing wildlife strikes requires constant monitoring, habitat management and, when necessary, active deterrence.
Certified wildlife biologist Alison Doran works daily to reduce those risks at JAX.
“The main goal of a wildlife biologist at an airport is to…
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Source www.news4jax.com
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