United Airlines Plane Makes Emergency Landing in Denver After Bird Strike
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A United Airlines jet returned safely to the Denver airport Tuesday after a bird struck one of its engines shortly after takeoff.
The engine that was struck continued to operate and the second engine wasn't affected, airline spokeswoman Megan McCarthy said. A passenger said the bird hit the right engine.
None of the 151 passengers and crew was injured.
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The Boeing 757 had just left for San Francisco when the bird strike happened. McCarthy said the pilot's decision to return to the airport was a precaution.
A US Airways jet splash-landed in New York's Hudson River on Jan. 15 after a collision with a flock of birds knocked out both engines. All 155 aboard survived.
A passenger on the United flight, Frank Crowe, said "there was definitely panic but there wasn't hysteria" after the bird strike.
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"We heard a large thump like we hit something, and the pitch of the engine changed dramatically to the point that it got real quiet, and there was a rattling, wheezing noise," Crowe said.
From the airport concourse after the plane landed, Crowe said he could see a dent on top of the engine cowling. He said mechanics climbed into the engine to inspect it.