JetBlue plane makes emergency landing in New York after bird strike

A JetBlue plane from Boston to Las Vegas that struck some birds shortly after takeoff has made a safe emergency landing in New York.

JetBlue Airways Corp. spokeswoman Sharon Jones said Flight 877 landed safely at John F. Kennedy International Airport just before 7:30 p.m. on Monday.

Ms Jones said the plane was diverted to JFK "out of an abundance of caution", adding that all 144 passengers would be re-accommodated on another aircraft.

The plane struck the birds late on Monday afternoon after taking off from Boston Logan International Airport. It was then diverted to New York.

JetBlue officials told WABC that birds struck the left engine and that weather prevented the plane from returning to Logan.

JetBlue did not say if the plane suffered any damage. 

Although a relatively rare occurrence, there have been a number of bird strikes in recent months.

Last month, a Japan Airlines flight bound for New York made an emergency landing at a Tokyo airport due to engine trouble apparently caused by a bird strike.

And in July, a Kuala Lumpur-bound AirAsia X flight had to divert to Brisbane after a suspected bird strike.

Collisions between planes and birds are rarely dangerous as aircraft engines are designed to withstand such impacts.

In one famous case in 2009, a pilot safely landed a passenger plane on the Hudson River in New York after both engines were damaged by a bird strike. 

The actions of Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger saved the lives of 155 passengers and the story was turned into a Hollywood film.