Ryanair flight abandoned after hitting birds on take-off

A flight carrying holidaymakers had to make an unscheduled landing after hitting birds during take-off.

Ryanair said the flight was leaving Leeds for Pisa, Italy, on Friday when there was a "minor bird strike".

The plane was diverted to Manchester where it landed normally. Customers were transferred to a replacement aircraft which left later that day.

Ryanair apologised for the diversion and delay, "which was entirely beyond our control".

Collisions between birds and planes are a common occurrence in aviation, with thousands reported every year in the US alone.

However, they rarely result in serious accidents or cause major damage to the aircraft.

Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk or send video here.