Utah-bound plane returns to California after striking bird

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San Diego • A Delta Air Lines flight that had just taken off in San Diego and was headed to Salt Lake City returned to the airport after hitting a bird.

Delta spokesman Trebor Banstetter says the pilot chose to return to Lindbergh Field airport after taking off at about 5:30 p.m. Monday "after an abundance of caution."

San Diego Fire-Rescue spokesman Maurice Luque tells U-T San Diego that the department was called to the scene, but no one was injured and firefighters found no signs of fire or other dangers during an inspection of the plane.

Passenger Ashley Easton tells KGTV-TV that "the plane jolted a little bit and the engine started making a funny noise, so it was kind of scary."

Delta says the Airbus A320 was taken out of service.