FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A Southwest Airlines flight bound for Austin, Texas had to turn around and return to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport following a bird strike shortly after takeoff.
Emergency crews greeted Southwest Airlines Flight 1416 after it landed safely and taxied to a gate just before noon.
Officials didn’t specify exactly how many people were aboard the Boeing 737.
An airline spokesperson said a separate aircraft will take passengers to Austin so the company can inspect the original plane further.
“We apologize to our Customers for the inconvenience and we commend the swift, professional actions of our Flight Crew in response to the event,” Southwest Airlines spokesperson Ashley Bain said, in part, in a statement to Local 10 News.