FAA: One plane returns to Kennedy after bird strike, another reports smoke in cockpit

An American Airlines flight bound for the U.S. Virgin Islands returned safely to Kennedy Airport after striking a flock of birds on takeoff early Tuesday, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

Two hours later, a JetBlue flight from Fort Lauderdale landed safely at Kennedy after reporting smoke in the cockpit.

The FAA said both incidents were under investigation.

The FAA identified the flight that reported striking birds as American Airlines 1320, a Boeing 757 that departed Kennedy about 8:50 a.m.

The flight crew reported striking "a flock of birds" on departure, and the captain declared an emergency, the FAA said. The flight then returned and landed safely.

Officials said the flight was bound for Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas, the U.S. Virgin Islands. It was not clear whether the aircraft was damaged.

The 135 passengers were put on another plane.

The second flight, which reported smoke in the cockpit, was JetBlue Flight 2, an Airbus A320, inbound to Kennedy from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, the FAA said. The FAA said that flight landed safely about 10:40 a.m. With AP

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”