Bird strike, cracked windshield causes plane to make emergency landing

CHARLESTON, West Virginia -- Officials say a plane flying from New York to Tennessee made an emergency landing in West Virginia after striking a bird.

News outlets report the 57 passengers on board the Delta flight had an unexpected layover Thursday at Charleston's Yeager Airport.

The aircraft was headed to Nashville, Tennessee, from New York's LaGuardia Airport.

Airport spokesman Mike Plante says the pilot told air traffic controllers they were going to make an emergency landing at 4:50 p.m. after a bird struck the plane.

Officials say when the bird hit the plane, it cracked the windshield. The aircraft landed without incident. No injuries were reported.

Plante says Delta was sending a new plane to transport passengers later in the evening.