Plane strikes bird, returns to Chicago's O'Hare

An American Airlines flight heading to China had to return to O'Hare International Airport when the pilot declared an emergency because the plane hit a bird.

American spokesman Matt Miller says 237 passengers and 15 crew members were on board Flight 289 when it departed O'Hare around 10:50 a.m. Sunday.

He says the emergency declaration was a “precaution” and the plane landed safely 25 minutes later.

The flight was heading to Shanghai.

Passengers are being moved to a new plane that's set to depart later in the afternoon.