Jet hits birds, forced to turn back to Missouri

Both engines on Frontier plane were hit, but only one lost power

Video

Plane forced to land after bird strike
Nov. 15: A Frontier Airlines plane was forced to return to the Kansas City International Airport after it struck a flock of birds. KSHB's Liz Zamora reports.

msnbc tv

Top slideshows

Getty Images	The Big Apple Long referred to as the center of American business, New York is a melting pot of cultures and landscapes. Take a visual tour of some of the Big Apple’s most famous attractions.
Lonely Planet Images	Hawaiian paradise The Hawaiian Islands are the perfect vacation destination for travelers of all types.
Lonely Planet Images	National spectacles Nearly 400 national parks can be found all across America, and feature breathtaking vistas, rock formations millions of years old, and more.

updated 10:51 a.m. ET Nov. 16, 2009

KANSAS CITY, Missouri - Airport officials in Kansas City say a passenger jet struck a flock of birds shortly after takeoff and returned to land safely.

The Frontier Airlines flight took off about 7 p.m. Saturday night bound for Denver when it hit the birds at an altitude of about 4,000 feet.

Kansas City International Airport spokeswoman Kathleen Hefner told KSHB-TV that both engines were hit, but only one lost power.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

Passengers said they saw flames shooting from one of the engines and there was a terrible smell in the cabin.

Bird-aircraft collisions are not unusual, but they are being more scrutinized since US Airways Flight 1549 safely ditched in the Hudson River in January after striking a flock of geese after takeoff from New York's LaGuardia Airport.

Don't miss these Travel stories from msnbc.com
Survey: Brits rate Thai hospitality tops, French last
FAA transcripts show efforts to reach Flight 188
Photo of the Week | It’s A Snap! gallery
Great gift ideas for tech-savvy globe-trotters
Best new travel gadgets of 2009