Denver-Bound Flight Turns Around After Striking Birds

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CBS4) - A flight bound for Denver was forced to turn around Friday morning after it struck several birds shortly after taking off.

The United Airlines 737 -- Flight 1596 -- took off from Sacramento, California, shortly before 6 a.m. but had to turn around after hitting the birds about 10 minutes after takoff. It landed at Sacramento International Airport.

"I could see sparks and hear popping. It was pretty rocky," one passenger said.

Another said he thought there was a fire inside the plane's cabin because he could smell smoke.

"There were three small explosions but not huge blasts. You could see fire outside flaring and there was a little bit of smoke inside the cabin," he said.

There were 135 people on the plane, and no one was injured.

Some passengers said they smelled smoke in the cabin.

A United Airlines spokeswoman told the Associated Press that the plane was being inspected.

MORE FROM CBSSACRAMENTO.COM: Bird Strike Forces Plane To Land At Sacramento International Airport