Southwest jet returns to airport after bird strike

One or more birds hit the engine while plane was taking off, no injuries

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updated 6:59 p.m. ET July 7, 2009

LINTHICUM, Md. - Southwest Airlines officials say a flight headed to Providence, R.I., has returned safely to Baltimore's airport after at least one bird hit an engine.

It happened about 5:20 p.m. Tuesday near Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. Southwest spokeswoman Whitney Eichinger says Flight 69, a 737, was carrying 137 passengers. Airport spokesman Jonathan Dean says one or more birds hit the engine while the plane was taking off.

Eichinger says the plane landed safely back at BWI and there were no injuries. She said mechanics were checking the aircraft.

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Planes hit birds every day in the U.S. A bird strike was responsible for the landing of a jetliner in the Hudson River in New York last winter. Everyone survived.

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