Trinidad-bound plane strikes vulture in Guyana
April 27, 2011, 7:33 PM UTC / Source: The Associated Press
Guyanese officials say a vulture got sucked into one of the engines of a Trinidad-bound Caribbean Airlines flight, forcing the aircraft to return to the South American country's main international airport.
Transport Minister Robeson Benn says the bird struck and seriously damaged one of the engines of Flight 662 shortly after it took off for Port-of-Spain on Tuesday.
The pilot of the Boeing 737 immediately turned back to Cheddi Jagan International Airport.
Benn said Wednesday that none of the 152 passengers and six crew members on board were injured. The passengers were able to board another flight Tuesday.
He says steps will be taken to disperse vultures and other birds that hover over livestock waste dumped near the airport.