Alaska flight halted after eagle sucked into engine

An eagle has been sucked into an Alaska Airlines jet's engine as the aircraft was taking off from a small southeast Alaska town, causing the flight to be aborted.

Airline spokesman Paul McElroy said Seattle-bound Flight 68 was approaching takeoff speed when the eagle went into the left engine shortly after 10am in Sitka.

None of the 134 passengers or five crew members was hurt. The bird collision automatically shut off the planeÕs engine.

McElroy said the jet braked to a stop about 3,000 feet (915 meters) from the end of the 6,500-foot (1,980-meter) runway, which ends at the water's edge. The plane then taxied back to the terminal with its single working engine.

The airline was sending a replacement plane from Anchorage to continue the flight later Sunday.  

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