Syracuse, NY -- An airliner heading for Detroit struck a bird shortly after taking off from Syracuse Hancock International Airport this morning and returned to the airport as a precaution, an airport spokeswoman said. The pilot reported the bird strike about 11:15 a.m. and returned the plane to the airport without incident, spokeswoman Christina Reale said. No one was hurt...
Syracuse, NY -- An airliner heading for Detroit struck a bird shortly after taking off from Syracuse Hancock International Airport this morning and returned to the airport as a precaution, an airport spokeswoman said.
The pilot reported the bird strike about 11:15 a.m. and returned the plane to the airport without incident, spokeswoman Christina Reale said. No one was hurt and the plane was evacuated while inspectors examined the airplane.
The plane was an Embraer 175 operated by Compass Airlines, a subsidiary of Delta Airlines, and seats 78 passengers. Reale did not have a number for the passengers onboard this flight.
At 1:50 p.m., the passengers were still off the plane and waiting to reboard and continue the flight, Reale said.
Investigators did find the remains of a bird, including feathers, and Reale said it appeared to be a small bird. The bird's remains will be sent to the Smithsonian Institute for identification, she said.
Friday morning's bird strike was the second such incident at the airport this week, Reale said. Wednesday evening, a pilot of an airliner landing at the airport reported striking a bird during the landing, Reale said. There was no damage to that aircraft, she said.