HAVANA: According to Cuban authorities, a US jetliner that was taking off from Cuba experienced engine trouble after hitting birds and returned to Havana for an emergency landing on Sunday.
Despite smoke entering the cabin of the plane, the incident involving Southwest Airlines flight 3923 to Fort Lauderdale, Florida did not result in any injuries to passengers or crew, according to statements made on the Facebook page of the airline and the Cuban civil aviation authority Cacsa.
According to a statement provided to AFP by Southwest Airlines, the Boeing 737 had 147 passengers on board in addition to a crew of six.
It was reported that birds hit one of the plane’s engines as well as the nose of the aircraft shortly after takeoff.
According to the statement, “The pilots safely returned to Havana where customers evacuated the aircraft via slides due to smoke in the cabin.”
According to the report, the passengers will be rebooked on another flight to Fort Lauderdale.
Cacsa announced that an investigation had been started.
