Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Inflight Event / Encounter Bird / Animal
Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Aircraft; Environment - Non Weather Related
We had a bird strike at rotation taking off Runway 19 at DCA. The bird hit the radome and the Captain's windshield. On climb out there was a loud squeal and we suspected a window seal leak. We [advised ATC of the situation] and with Captain's authority; landed overweight. We followed the appropriate QRH procedures. The landing was normal; touchdown was less than 50 feet per minute and we weighed 147;000 pounds. A bird strike form has been submitted. The Aircraft Maintenance Log (AML) was filled out appropriately and addressed by maintenance; no damage was found.
Takeoff from DCA Runway 19; just after rotation we had a single thump on the airframe and noticed a large bug splat on the Captain's forward windscreen close to the center line. We concluded it was a bird strike; no other indications noticed. The Captain continued the climb and clean up with no problems until reaching roughly 4;000 feet where a very loud squeal was heard. We assumed a window seal had been compromised and under Captain's Authority decided to [advise ATC of the situation] and divert. Speed never exceeded 250 and altitude no higher than 5;000. Aircraft maintained pressurization throughout. We did notice the squeal decreased and ceased at less than 1.4 differential PSI (3;500 feet). Appropriate QRH checklists were accomplished. We landed overweight at 147;000 with less than 60 feet/minute [on the] Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI) on touchdown; 30 flaps; brakes 1 and rolled long to prevent overheating brakes. Crash and rescue met us on just off the runway for inspection of airframe and brakes. No issues. Bird strike form submitted.
B737-800 crew reported a bird strike on departure from DCA which resulted in a loud squeal and a diversion.