Continental Flight Forced Back to Newark after Bird Strike;

[Ari707]

NEWARK, N.J. (AP/1010 WINS) -- Officials say a Continental Airlines jet with 301 people aboard returned safely to Newark Liberty International Airport after it struck a flock of geese shortly after takeoff. No one was injured.

Web Extra: 'Miracle On the Hudson' One Year Later

Ron Marsico, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, said Continental Airlines Flight 99 was headed to Hong Kong when it took off around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Marsico said there were warnings of migrating birds in the area.

Marsico said blood was found on the nose of the Boeing 777 and around the left-wing engine.

On Thursday, the pilot of a US Airways jet reported a bird strike and an engine problem shortly after takeoff from an upstate New York airport, forcing the plane to turn back and make an emergency landing, officials said.

The pilot of Flight 1101 declared an emergency two minutes after leaving Rochester's airport for Charlotte, N.C., airline spokeswoman Tina Swail said. The plane hit several Canada geese at about 2,000 feet and had a problem with one of its two engines, Rochester airport spokeswoman Jennifer Hanrahan said.

The Airbus A319, which was carrying 124 passengers and a crew of five, landed safety at 8:30 a.m. and returned to the terminal.

Passengers said they heard a loud noise followed by the smell of burning. "You could hear everyone gasp. Everyone knew something was wrong,'' passenger Nicole Dalberth, 20, told the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.

The plane underwent repairs, the flight was canceled and passengers were shifted to other flights.

In January 2009, a Charlotte-bound US Airways flight struck a flock of Canada geese and lost both engines after taking off from New York's LaGuardia Airport. Pilot Chesley "Sully'' Sullenberger, who retired earlier this month, landed the Airbus A320 safely on the Hudson River. All 150 passengers survived.

Reports of airplanes hitting birds and other wildlife surged last year, including serious accidents such as birds crashing through cockpits and crippling engines in flight, according to an analysis by The Associated Press of new government data.

The last bird strike at Rochester's airport was three years ago, Hanrahan said. No one was hurt.

TM & Copyright 2010 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO & EYE Logo TM & Copyright 2010

[seahawks7757]

Honestly why are bird strikes even news? It's a common issue with aviation that keeps getting reported and making it look more and more dangerous then what it really is. I mean it seems like a bird looks at a plane and the media is out there covering it.

[moose135]

Honestly why are bird strikes even news?

[T-Bird76]

Honestly why are bird strikes even news?

Moose what are you trying to say here? ;) LOLOL

[seahawks7757]

Ok, on rare occasions they are signifigant like that but rare occasions. We had plenty here in SEA that were no big deal.

[NLovis]

Sully fighters looking for new targets now

[njgtr82]

I was working when this happened, the flight was already 6 hours late, then hit 10 flocks of birds on the climbout. Went and dumped 3 hours of fuel and returned with 15 hours of fuel still left. Ended up being no damage with just blood on the aircraft.