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Bird Strike Forces Plane To Return To DIA

By Kelly Werthmann

DENVER (CBS4)- Airplanes and birds may do their best to share the sky, but they don't always succeed. Passengers en route from Denver to San Francisco learned that the hard way Monday morning.

"We were very close to just getting up in the air when we heard a loud crunching kind of noise," Meg Brook, passenger on Virgin America Airlines Flight 865, told CBS4.

The San Francisco-bound flight took off from Denver International Airport just before noon but returned to the airport just about 10 minutes later.

Bird Strike
(credit: CBS)

"The pilot came on and said there was a bird strike and that we were returning to the airport," said passenger Everett Ascher.

Once pilots were able to make a safe landing, firefighters inspected the plane before it pulled up to the gate. Mechanics also took a look at the aircraft for any potential damage.

"The good thing was they let us off the airplane," Brook said.

According to DIA spokesperson Heath Montgomery, bird strikes are not a rarity at Denver's airport.

"Across the country, bird strikes are not uncommon," Montgomery told CBS4's Kelly Werthmann. "We have an abundance of wildlife here in Colorado and across the country, which we're thankful for, but it does create an issue."

Last year, CBS4 went to Seattle to check out technology that can detect birds near the airport. Yet, Denver International Airport doesn't use it, saying such technology is better suited for smaller locations.

"We are the largest airport in the country at 53 square miles," Montgomery said. "It might make sense for one type of technology and not another type."

Bird Strike 2
(credit: CBS)

Instead, DIA partners with federal wildlife services as well as the FAA to mow down animal habitats on airport property. Officials also use hazing and relocating practices to mitigate the issue.

"There are a number of research institutions and the FAA working on better solutions for the long term," Montgomery said.

Virgin America released this statement: "Shortly after departure from Denver International Airport, VX Flight 865 en route to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) experienced a bird strike, and pilots returned to the airfield so that the aircraft could be evaluated. As is standard operating procedure in such circumstances and out of an abundance of caution, the captain declared an emergency, but the aircraft continued to operate as normal, and the safety of the passengers and crew was never in question. The flight landed safely at DEN, where maintenance crews are currently inspecting the aircraft. We are working to find alternative travel options for affected guests to get them to their destinations as soon as possible."

Kelly Werthmann joined the CBS4 team in 2012 as the morning reporter, covering national stories like the Aurora Theater Shooting and devastating Colorado wildfires. She now reports for CBS4 News at 10 and is always open to story ideas. Connect with her on Facebook or Twitter @KellyCBS4.

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