1.   Another possibility was hitting a flock of birds, which could damage the engines.

2.   A United Airlines jumbo jet bound for San Francisco hit a flock of birds after taking off from Sydney, damaging one of its engines, officials said.

3.   His plane was believed to have hit a flock of birds and was forced to return to Nauru before finally taking off for Suva.

4.   The crew of a plane which took off without mishap immediately after the Leadair jet reported hitting a flock of birds at low altitude.