A British Airways flight travelling from Washington DC to London was forced to make an emergency landing in Boston after a suspected bird strike caused fumes in the cabin.
The Boeing 777 aircraft was diverted on Saturday evening "as a precaution", according to the airline.
The incident occurred after the crew reported a possible bird strike and smoke in the cabin, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement to CBS News.
Engineers are now inspecting the aircraft.
The British Airways aircraft en route to London but was forced to divert to Boston
PA
Flight 216 departed Dulles International Airport around 5.30pm local time on Saturday before it was forced to land at Boston Logan International Airport around 7.30pm.
A Massachusetts Port Authority spokesman confirmed that "a bird was struck" and that the plane "landed without incident".
There were no reports of injuries amongst those onboard.
British Airways confirmed the aircraft was diverted "following a suspected bird strike".
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In a statement to The Independent, a spokesperson for British Airways said: "The flight landed safely after diverting to Boston as a precaution following a suspected bird strike.
"We are sorry for the delay to our customers' travel plans, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority."
It is unclear exactly how many passengers were affected by the diversion.
The news has followed a major aviation disaster on December 30, 2024, when 179 passengers lost their lives after a Jeju Air flight crashed in South Korea following a suspected "bird strike".
A suspected bird strike caused fumes in the cabin (Stock)
GETTY
South Korean aviation authorities had reportedly been warned about a high risk of bird strikes near Muan international airport prior to the tragedy.
Bird strikes are common in the aviation industry and most likely to occur during takeoff, landing or near airports.
According to the latest Civil Aviation Authority figures, there were 1,432 recorded bird strikes in the UK in 2022.
Despite their frequency, it is very rare for bird strikes to be linked with fatalities and, in the majority of collisions, aircrafts land safely with minimal damage.
Of the more than 1,400 strikes recorded in 2022, only 45 caused aircraft damage.
