A JetBlue flight headed to Florida had to turn around after it struck a bird shortly after takeoff from an airport in New York City’s suburbs.

The airline says a jet bound for Fort Myers hit the bird shortly after taking off from the Westchester County Airport in White Plains.

JetBlue says that in “an abundance of caution” the aircraft was diverted to nearby Kennedy Airport, where it landed safely at 8:25 a.m. Thursday.

Passengers were put on another plane. They were expected to arrive in Florida about two hours late.

Federal transportation officials say nearly 10,000 aircraft collide with birds every year.

Bird strikes over New York have been getting special attention since 2009, when a flight successfully ditched in the Hudson River after hitting a flock of geese.

(AP)