2 airlines hit birds, return safely to airports

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Two jetliners crossed paths with flocks of Canada geese shortly after taking off from airports on consecutive days in New York and New Jersey, and the collisions with the large birds forced the pilots to make emergency landings. No one was hurt.

A US Airways jet headed to Charlotte, N.C., with 124 passengers and a crew of five struck several geese Thursday morning about two minutes after leaving Rochester's airport in upstate New York. The pilot reported a problem with one of the two engines, and the plane turned back, officials said. Passengers said they heard a loud noise followed by the smell of burning.

The Airbus A319 landed safety at 8:30 a.m. The plane underwent repairs, the flight was canceled and passengers were shifted to other flights. The last bird strike at Rochester's airport was three years ago, airport spokeswoman Jennifer Hanrahan said.

Canada geese also struck a Continental Airlines jet with 301 people aboard as it took off from Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey at about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. The Boeing 777, bound for Hong Kong, landed safely and did not appear to be damaged, the airline said. Most of the passengers were rebooked on a flight Thursday morning to Hong Kong.

There were warnings of migrating birds in the area, said Ron Marsico, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Canada geese typically range in size from about 6 pounds to 12 pounds.

In January 2009, another Charlotte-bound US Airways flight struck a flock of Canada geese and lost both engines minutes 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 and was quickly hailed as an American hero. 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.

ARIZONA PILOT DIES: At Chandler, Ariz., a World War II-era plane crashed Thursday while attempting to land at a small suburban Phoenix airport, killing the pilot and starting a hangar on fire, authorities said.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said the single-engine P-51D Mustang crashed at about 1:20 p.m. at Stellar Airpark in Chandler.

Authorities evacuated nearby hangars after one caught fire following the crash. The blaze was quickly extinguished, and fire crews sifted through the debris to determine if there were any other victims. None were found.