A plane has been forced to make an emergency landing after it flew into birds during take-off.
The US military C-37 plane was taking off from Chicago Midway International Airport on Monday when it collided with the flock, according to a spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration.
Inspections by ramp personnel and aircrew members took place back at the airport, with the strike reported to have come at the airframe.
A carcass of a large bird was later found on the runway.
Passengers on board the flight included top official General Daniel Hokanson, who is National Guard Bureau chief on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
A spokesperson for the 89th Airlift Wing of the United States Air Force speaking to NBC 5 said the decision was made to return to the airport "out of an abundance of caution."
Nobody on board was injured in the incident, they said. An investigation into the collision is now under way.
The general will now seek to take another plane out of Chicago this week, with local media reporting he is hoping to fly out on Tuesday morning.
He is the highest ranking member of the National Guard, a reserve force of the military which primarily deals with responses to domestic emergencies, overseas military operations, counter-drug operations.
Bird strikes are regarded to be a considerable risk in aircraft operation, though risk to human life on civilian aircraft from one occurring is estimated to be as low as one in a billion flying hours.
Back in August, shocking images revealed the damage caused to an RAF Red Arrow in the UK after it was hit by a bird.
The animal smashed a hole in the cockpit just above right next to the pilot's head.
The freak accident took place during the Rhyl Air Show in Wales, with witnesses hearing a "loud pop" just before the damaged plane broke formation.
Red 6 returned to Hawarden Airport following the "bird strike", NorthWalesLive reports.
