RALEIGH, N.C. -- A Southwest Airlines jet carrying 124 people struck a bird shortly after departing for Chicago from a North Carolina airport on Monday.
Southwest spokeswoman Whitney Eichinger said that a Boeing 737 immediately returned to Raleigh-Durham International Airport after reporting the bird strike at about 6 p.m.
She says the plane, with a five-person crew, shut down the affected engine before Flight 220 landed safely back at Raleigh-Durham and taxied to the gate. No injuries were reported.
"We re-accommodated all of the passengers onto other aircraft to Chicago," Eichinger said.
The aircraft was taken out of service for inspection and any necessary repairs.