Firefighters were responding to a plane landing while experiencing engine trouble at Rockford Airport Thursday, a Rockford Fire Department official confirmed.
The plane was carrying 177 passengers and six crew members, a spokesperson for airline company Allegiant told NBC 5.
A Rockford Fire Official told the news station WREX in a Facebook Live interview it looked like a bird had flown into the engine of the plane. The aircraft was headed to Punta Gorda, Florida. It left Rockford Airport and returned after announcing an emergency when it experienced engine trouble.
"The aircraft experienced a bird strike to its number one engine in flight, and per safety procedures the captain shut down the engine," Hilarie Grey, an spokeswoman for the airline said. "The aircraft returned to Rockford landed safely and was met by airport fire crews. Passengers deplaned at the gate."
Passengers were provided $100 vouchers for future travel on Allegiant, Grey said, as well as food service in the gate area.
