Jeju Air 737 returns safely to Osaka after bird strike

A Jeju Air passenger plane. [JEJU AIR]

A Jeju Air 737 taking off from Osaka turned back due to a bird strike and landed safely.

Flight 1381, which departed from Kansai International Airport at 11 a.m. Tuesday and headed for Gimpo International Airport, collided with birds immediately after takeoff and had to turn back, according to Jeju Air.

There were 187 passengers on board with six crew members. Passengers will return home on an alternate flight Tuesday.

The replacement flight departed from Incheon International Airport at 2 p.m. and is heading to Kansai International Airport, where it will pick up the passengers and arrive at Gimpo at 6:40 p.m.

“We have explained the situation to passengers and informed them of compensation rules for delays due to aircraft accident such as this,” said a spokesperson from Jeju Air.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]