July 7, 2009

A Southwest Airlines plane has made an emergency landing at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport after striking several birds during take off.

BWI Spokesman Jonathan Dean says Southwest Flight 69 was heading from BWI to Providence with about 135 people on board when it struck the birds.

The plane was able to turn around and land safely within minutes.  There were no reports of injuries and it does not appear the plane was damaged.

One runway is shutdown while crews remove the dead birds.

According to Dean, all flights are arriving and departing on time.