SAN FRANCISCO, March 26 (Xinhua) -- United Airlines confirmed on Tuesday that the company's flight bound for Denver from San Francisco suffered a bird strike shortly after takeoff on Saturday.
"Aircraft struck a bird on departure, damaging the pilot's side window," the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a report.
The aircraft involved in the incident, a Boeing 737-9 MAX, had ascended to approximately 5,000 feet after departing on Saturday morning. It safely landed about 25 minutes post-departure.
San Francisco International Airport records an average of 18 strikes for every 100,000 aircraft operations, according to a report by the San Francisco Chronicle.
Due to United Airlines' recent incidents, such as the loss of a wheel during takeoff from San Francisco International Airport, "the FAA is increasing oversight of United Airlines to ensure that it is complying with safety regulations; identifying hazards and mitigating risk; and effectively managing safety," the agency said in a statement. ■