Originally Posted by
CowboyPilot79
I'd almost guess the didn't realize they actually hit something until a pax saw it, called an FA, and then the FA called up to the front.
I agree. That was my point. If they knew or even suspected, I doubt they would have climbed the way they did. Tough to diagnose that at night on a takeoff with all the ambient noise, bumps on the runway, etc.