July 7, 2009

Southwest Airlines officials say a flight headed to Providence, R.I., has returned safely to BWI airport after a bird struck an engine.

It happened shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. Southwest spokeswoman Whitney Eichinger says Flight 69 was carrying 137 passengers when the bird hit the engine.

Eichinger says the plane landed safely back at BWI and there were no injuries. She said mechanics were checking the aircraft.