A United Airlines 737 Max took a 40-minute flight to nowhere after hitting a coyote on the runway

A United Boeing 737 Max 9.

Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images

• A United Airlines plane hit a coyote during departure, the FAA and the airline confirmed.
• The Boeing 737 Max turned back to Chicago and landed 40 minutes after departing.
• The probability of wildlife strikes has risen "dramatically" in recent years due to quieter planes.

A United Airlines plane embarked on a 40-minute flight to nowhere after hitting a coyote on the runway.

On Monday...