Southwest Airlines the plane was forced to make an emergency landing Cuba after the collision with the bird, the cockpit filled with smoke.
Southwest flight 3923 is headed to Fort Lauderdale, Floridawas forced to return to HavanaJose Marti International Airport after the incident on Sunday.
Cellphone footage showed the cabin filling with smoke, and passengers said the plane’s oxygen masks failed to deploy properly.
“Southwest Flight #3923 from Havana, Cuba to Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Sunday morning reportedly collided with the engine and nose of the aircraft shortly after takeoff,” an airline spokesperson said. said in a statement to NBC 6.
The passenger is Stephen Rodriguez the news channel told that he heard a “big bang” and that the incident was “like an explosion.
“People started taking matters into their own hands and forcing their way through the roof to remove the masks,” Mr Rodriguez said.
“And people’s knuckles were bloody and all because they punched the roof with their fists. There were young children and elderly women on the plane.”
The plane returned safely to Havana and the passengers were evacuated using emergency slides. They were then bussed to the airport terminal and waited to board another flight to Fort Lauderdale.
Cuban airport officials said the passengers were evacuated in good condition and an investigation is underway.
