Birds Bring Ryanair Jet To Crashing Halt

All 166 passengers on a commuter Ryanair plane had to be evacuated down emergency chutes this morning at Rome's main airport after what is thought to have been multiple bird strikes.

Two cabin crew and eight passengers were taken to a local hospital complaining of minor injuries after the emergency chutes were utlilised in exting the aircraft.

Rome's Ciampino airport has been temporarily closed after the flight from Frankfurt suffered what has been described as "substantial damage" as it made the emergency landing.

The Irish budget airline said the plane experienced engine problems from multiple bird strikes as it came in to land.

The plane remains on the runway with one engine resting on the tarmac because of damage to the landing gear.

The plane - flight FR4102 from Frankfurt - is being examined by Ryanair engineers and the Italian Aviation Authority.

Ryanair said the airport, which hosts several budget airlines, would be closed until some time on Monday afternoon.

Passengers said an engine had begun to smoke as the plane was coming in to land and it then rapidly descended.

Other Ryanair flights would be routed to and from Rome's other airport, Fiumicino, the airline said, until Ciampino was re-opened.

(BMcC)