Embraer Regional Jet Struck A Bird Shortly After Takeoff From Westchester

An Embraer ERJ-190 operated by JetBlue made a precautionary emergency landing Thursday at New York's JFK International Airport after striking a bird shortly after takeoff from Westchester Airport en route to Fort Myers, FL.

The plane had departed Westchester County Airport at 0746 EDT Thursday, with a scheduled arrival in Florida of 1051 EDT. The FAA told Newsday that the plane diverted to JFK, and it landed safely at 0843.

The extent of the damage to the airplane, if any, was not reported. FAA spokeswoman Arlene Salac said there were no injuries among the passengers on the plane.

WCBS television reports that, according to JetBlue, the plane hit two starlings about a half hour after the plane departed Westchester Airport. The pilot made the landing "out of an abundance of caution." The passengers were transferred to another plane, and the arrived in Florida about two hours behind schedule.

WCBS reports that two other JetBlue flights have been forced to return to Kennedy Airport after bird strikes earlier this year. There were no injuries in either of those incidents.

(File photo. Not incident aircraft)

FMI: www.faa.gov