No injuries after flight to Denver hits birds, makes emergency landing at Sacramento airport

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A United Airlines flight headed from Sacramento to Denver made an emergency landing after hitting birds shortly after takeoff.

Sacramento fire spokesman Roberto Padilla tells The Sacramento Bee (http://bit.ly/1x4eV92 ) that the bird strike around 5:44 a.m. Friday forced a United Airlines 737 jet to turn around and safely land back at Sacramento International Airport.

No one was injured. Padilla says firefighters responded to the airport as a precaution.

KCRA-TV meteorologist Eileen Javora says she was on the plane and tells the station (http://bit.ly/1x4eV92 ) that she heard a couple of booms and then smelled smoke.

An airport spokeswoman didn't immediately return calls from The Associated Press seeking comment.

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Information from: The Sacramento Bee, http://www.sacbee.com