CHARLESTON, S.C. — A private jet carrying five people struck and killed an alligator while taking off from a small airport near Charleston, prompting the pilots to divert to a larger airport over fears the plane's landing gear had been damaged, according to a police report.

The aircraft landed safely at Charleston International Airport on Friday night, and no injuries were reported, according to a report obtained by WCIV-TV.

The incident happened as the jet departed Johns Island Airport, a general aviation field southwest of Charleston. The plane, an Embraer Phenom 300 registered out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, struck the alligator while taking off from runway 27, the report said.

Three passengers and two pilots were on board.

Officers with the Charleston Airport Police Department were dispatched around 8:40 p.m. on Nov. 6, according to the report.

Precautionary diversion

After the........

© International Business Times